The government has responded to a letter sent by the Inequalities in Health Alliance, a coalition of over 170 organisations calling for a cross-government strategy to reduce health inequalities.
The IHA launched in October 2020, and wrote to the prime minister to ask the government to do three things:
- Develop a cross-government strategy to reduce health inequalities
- Commence the socio-economic duty, section 1 of the Equality Act 2010
- Adopt a ‘child health in all policies’ approach.
After not receiving a response, the IHA wrote again in February 2021 to reiterate the three aims and to request a meeting to discuss the government’s approach to reducing health inequalities.
The government has now responded to the IHA’s original letter, with Public Health Minister Jo Churchill MP reaffirming the government’s commitment to reducing health inequalities as part of the ‘levelling up’ agenda.
She went on to say that government recognises that “health is the product not just of health services, but of our behaviours and of the environment in which we live” and accepts that “we need to act on all fronts”. Despite that, the response makes no reference to a cross-government strategy and says they have no plans to enact the socioeconomic duty in England.
Professor Andrew Goddard, president of the RCP, said: “We are pleased to have received a response from the government to our letters.
“We were disappointed that the prime minister asked the Department of Health and Social Care to respond as a ‘health-related matter’ though. As the minister herself said, “health is the product not just of health services, but of our behaviours and of the environment in which we live”.
“That’s why we’re calling for a cross-government approach, because how and where you live, your education and your employment all have an impact on your health. It’s only by improving these things that we will reduce inequality in how long you can expect to live a healthy life – and that requires leadership from the top.”
The IHA will continue to make the case for government action to reduce health inequalities. If your organisation is interested in joining us, please let us know.