Reducing health inequalities in Europe
Health inequalities relate to a wide range of causes but also to the health dimension of social inclusion, which has been decisive in getting the issue of health inequalities into the Europe 2020 agenda. It can be assumed that the current crisis will affect the health status of citizens on health care budgets negatively, underscoring the need to develop a health equity approach.
Description
This opinion of the Social Protection Committee underlines that
addressing the social determinants that cause health inequalities
can help reduce the pressures on health care systems, and greater
attention to health inequalities in delivery can improve the
efficiency of health care.
In this light, the SPC advises to take extra measures to improve
health outcomes for vulnerable and socially excluded groups (such
as people living in poverty, people with a disability, the
homeless, people from some migrant or ethnic minority backgrounds,
in particular the Roma population, but also specific groups among
elderly people and children) that are at particular risk of poverty
and thus more affected by health inequalities. Specific, regional
and local policies should be implemented in the case of vulnerable
groups.
On a practical level, this would entail:
- focusing on vulnerable groups;
- addressing gender issues;
- considering upstream factors such as general living conditions and incomes;
- considering downstream factors such as (un)healthy lifestyles;
- balancing curative and preventive care spending.
This opinion stresses the need to involve all relevant partner
through an Open Method of Coordination, and to benefit from
regional and cross-border cooperation and national experts.
Publication Date
May 2010
Document type
Policy document
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