Press Release below from opening addresses by English Health Minister
Patricia Hewitt and EU Commissioner Markos Kyprianou UK Presidency
Conference on Health Inequalities

Best wishes
David McDaid
LSE Health and Social Care


EU action to tackle health inequalities

Published:
Monday 17 October 2005
Reference number:
2005/0352


Secretary of State for Health, Patricia Hewitt, today called for action by
all European member states to break the cycle of poor health among
disadvantaged groups.

Opening the Tackling Health Inequalities - Governing for Health Summit
today in London, she reaffirmed the Government's commitment to reduce the
health gap in England and to encourage other countries to make this a
priority.

The summit is a focal point of the UK Presidency of the EU health programme
and brings together an audience from all 25 member states, the European
Commission, the World Health Organization and experts in public health
across the globe.  The aim of the event is to share solutions to inform the
important the work of the Commission as well as member states to help
reduce health inequalities within member states.

Speaking at the event, Patricia Hewitt said:

"Almost all important health problems, and major causes of premature death
across Europe such as heart disease and cancer, are more common among
people with lower levels of education and income.  Narrowing this health
gap and making good health a reality for everyone, is essential if we are
to create a Europe of social justice as well as prosperity."

Two independent reports commissioned by the UK's Presidency of the EU, were
also published today. One examines the scale and nature of health
inequalities within European countries and calls for data to be collected
that is internationally comparable so that progress on tackling health
inequalities can be measured and member states can use the data to develop
effective policies and progress can be made. The other highlights the work
being done in all EU Member States on health inequalities, and provides
insight in to the different policy approaches.

Markos Kyprianou, EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, said:

"This summit is an excellent opportunity to foster discussion on the
factors that have an impact on health inequalities and will help prompt
action throughout the EU. We want our social model and our economic model
to deliver prosperity and a fair distribution of health. By helping to
share and promote best practice on solutions that work, this summit can
help us in this goal."

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