BCS Position Statement: Inequalities in Health Alliance
On Wednesday 15 September, over 90 senior representatives of the Inequalities in Health Alliance (IHA) have written to the Prime Minister calling for a cross-government strategy to reduce health inequalities; The BCS is a member and was a signatory to this letter.
Before the pandemic, the gap in healthy life expectancy between the richest and poorest in England was almost two decades. And that has a toll on individuals, regions and the country as a whole: in the areas of England with the lowest healthy life expectancy, more than a third of those aged 25 to 64 are economically inactive due to long-term sickness or disability.
If we want to level up and build back better, we need an explicit health inequalities strategy, with clear measurable goals, that considers the role of every department and every available policy lever in tackling health disparities.
The letter makes calls for a cross-government health inequalities strategy with clear measurable goals, which consider the role of every department and every available policy lever. The RCP, as convenors of the IHA, has also published a position paper about the need for a cross-government strategy (hyperlink to be inserted).
The Inequalities in Health Alliance (IHA), first called for a cross-government strategy to reduce health inequalities when it launched in October 2020
The Inequalities in Health Alliance (IHA) is a coalition of nearly 80 organisations, including the British Cardiovascular Society, launched to press for urgent action to address health inequalities. The IHA first called for a cross-government strategy to reduce health inequalities when it launched in October 2020
Read more about the IHA and the statement on the RCP website.