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Combating socioeconomic inequalities to improve health

Inequalities in living conditions result in health inequalities. Improving health depends up on reducing these inequalities.

A number of economic and social factors impact on the health level of the population as a whole and on that of individuals, both in France and around the world.

We are not equal in the face of death or illness, or when it comes to healthcare; it all depends on our socioeconomic situation, our profession, where we live, etc.

There is a view that it is up to each individual to take responsibility for their own health and to choose a healthy lifestyle.For this to happen each person must have access to healthcare, and also to education, a proper diet, a healthy living environment, proper social services etc.

There is no automatic correlation between a country’s overall wealth and its economic level; several studies have shown that economic growth is not sufficient to improve the health of the general population. Overall health only improves if socioeconomic inequalities are reduced.

The World Health Organization made recommendations to focus on reducing socioeconomic inequalities in order to improve health. It published 200 recommendations with a view to:

  • improving day-to-day living conditions, i.e. housing, diet, employment and working conditions;
  • combating the inequalities that determine day-to-day living conditions and include power sharing and the degree to which resources should be shared.

©Prescrire September 2010

Source: Numéro spécial "Agir pour l'accès de chacun aux soins de qualité" Rev Prescrire 2010; 30 (322).

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