A UCL report on health inequalities in the EU

An EU-funded report entitled ‘Health Inequalities in the EU’ produced by a consortium led by Sir Michael Marmot from University College London was published in December. In the report Marmot provides an overview about health inequalities and policy responses in Europe, a topic which he also addressed at ESN’s European Social Services Conference in Dublin earlier this year.

According to the report, there is no evidence to show that there has been an overall decline in inequalities in life expectancy between EU regions. The report also looks at the social determinates of health and analyses social differences in health by the relationship between (1) self-reported health and levels of education, income and deprivation and (2) life expectancy and education. The report supports the findings from the World Health Organisation that inequalities in health arise because of socio-economic inequalities.

The report also looks at the impact of the financial crisis that is threatening to undermine existing policies set to tackle health inequalities. During this year’s Annual Convention of the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion, ESN’s John Halloran chaired a workshop on the access to health care during the crisis. Workshop participants stressed that health inequalities should be tackled by considering the various and often multiple needs of people facing disadvantages. Furthermore, participants agreed on a very broad definition of the health system as one which includes the participation of all actors that have an impact on health, including social services.