1st Edition

Reducing Inequalities in Health A European Perspective

Edited By Martijntje Bakker, Johan Mackenbach Copyright 2002
384 Pages
by Routledge

380 Pages
by Routledge

384 Pages
by Routledge

Socio-economic inequalities in health are present to a greater or lesser extent in all European countries and the available data suggests that the health gap is increasing. Many studies have been conducted to explain inequalities in health and from them much has been learnt about the different contributory factors. However, in practice it seems hard to translate the knowledge of causes into... Read more
Part One: Introduction Part Two: Key Conceptual Issues 2. Health Impact Assessment 3. Evaluation Issues 4. Universalist Verses Selectivist Approach 5. Gender Perspective Part Three: National Experiences 6. France 7. Italy 8. Lithuania 9. The Netherlands 10. Spain 11. Sweden 12. England/UK 13. Interventions to Reduce Health Inequalities in Barcelona Part Four: Examples of Good/Bad Practice: Lessons to be Learned 14. Income Related Policies; How to Cope with Recession 15. Working Conditions 16. Social Security Systems 17. Nutrition Policies 18. Smoking Policies 19. Children 20. Financial Barriers to Health Care Part Five: General Lessons / Policy Implications 22. Reflections on European Experiences 22. Policy Implications Part Five: Extended Summary Glossary

Biography

Martijntje Bakker, Johan Mackenbach

'For politicians with a genuine desire to reduce health inequalities, this book provides guidance as to what is likely to work and what is not. I recommend that these politicians, and anyone else with an interest in inequalities, read this book.' - John Macleod, Family Practice

Interestingly, the authors propose a kind of Cochrane Collaboration for inequality interventions and policies, to further the international study of inequalities. This would undoubtedly be useful but for me the books message is that we must pursue the holy grail of cross-party consensus on the main strands of policy, as in the Netherlands and Sweden. Paul Walker