Better For Everyone

• For our Children
• For Maori
• For Older People
• For us all

 

Reducing Health Inequalities

"Although there is far more to inequality than just income, income is linked to life chances in a number of salient ways" (Marmot Review 2010)

The NZ Medical Association has strongly endorsed the policy recommendations of the UK Marmot Review

• give every child the best start in life
• enable all children, young people and adults to maximise their capabilities
• create fair employment and good work for all
• ensure a healthy standard of living for all.

(see also The Best Start in Life: Achieving effective child health and wellbeing, PHAC, 2010)

Reducing Economic Inequalities

Inequality cannot simply be explained as wrong choices or behaviours. Inequality of resources and opportunity are powerful background forces. In order to get ahead, people need more equal access to resources - more income and wealth equality creates more equal opportunity for everyone in society. (UK National Equality Panel, 2009)

Reducing income inequality is a key contributor to improving our health, our wellbeing and our economy. It is not the only contributor but the experience of past decades is that without reducing economic inequality, it is much harder or indeed almost impossible to improve many of our health and social outcomes.