Health Inequalities Highlighted

People in the most deprived areas of Fife are more likely to suffer from poor health and die early.

Those in more affluent areas typically live longer according to research.

Green MSPs have published a paper the growing problem to be made a political priority:

• Incomes to be raised through policies such as a £10 minimum wage
• Legislation to bring in Health Inequality Impact Assessments (HIIA) for all significant government policies
• The creation of a Healthy Challenge Fund to empower communities in the same way as the hugely successful Climate Challenge Fund

Alison Johnstone, Scottish Green MSP for Lothian, said: "Successive governments have attempted to reduce health inequality by trying to change people’s behaviour, but this has made little tangible difference. The most important things which affect our health include income, access to health and social services, good quality jobs and the quality of our environment.

"Given the wide range of factors influencing our health, we should be looking at how all major government decisions affect health inequality. And we should be supporting a community-led approach so that particular local health challenges can be tackled through projects designed and run by the community."