Health Inequalities

On 2 April 2009, the European Parliament passed a new bill banning discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sexual orientation, belief or religion. The innovation is that this bill extends discrimination protection beyond the labour market to goods and services as well as to other areas of life such as education, health, social protection and social security for the discrimination grounds of sexual orientation, disability, age and religion or belief.
Background
For many years the (...)

The first signs of the economic crisis on health are already being felt throughout Europe. A quarter of people are putting healthier eating on the back burner in the wake of the financial crisis, a report by a UK consumer watchdog Which ? reveals.
Crisis & Health : Figures
Which ? found that 24% of UK adults feel healthier eating is now less important, with 56% saying price has overtaken as a priority when choosing food.
And the poll of 2,102 people showed that 76% think the government (...)

In its response to the Commission’s consultation on EU action to reduce health inequalities, EPHA stressed the importance of tackling these issues at Community level and the need to address the determinants of health inequalities that lie outside the scope of the health community.
Given the extensive available body of evidence, EPHA urged the Commission to act to tackle inequalities, particularly in the current economic climate.
Disease and injury prevention, facilitating access to (...)

The Prevention Institute and the Health Policy Institute of the United States have published a memo guide on health inequalities and prevention in order to improve health conditions for all citizens.
Background
Supported by the willingness of the newly elected American Congress to put a emphasis on health prevention, the memo sums up the concerns related to health inequalities in the United States and provides some recommendations to the federal and state level on the significance of (...)

A new study from the UK has confirmed that green spaces close to residential areas can contribute to a reduction in the ’health gap’ between rich and poor communities.
The study, published in The Lancet, suggests that even small parks in urban areas can protect us from strokes, heart disease and perhaps even reduce stress.
It will have implications for the future of urban planning in the UK and beyond, and should be used to encourage councils and local authorities to introduce and (...)

EPHA participated at a two-day seminar to discuss the EN-HERA initiative for the protection and promotion of sexual and reproductive rights for refugees, asylum seekers and migrants.
The event, hosted by the International Centre for Reproductive Health of Ghent University, offered participants the opportunity to meet with the European partners of the network and to discuss with all the stakeholders present the most effective way of promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights of (...)

EPHA was invited to participate in the 7th Roundtable on Poverty and Social Exclusion, held under the French Presidency in Marseille on 15 and 16 October. Despite a welcome inclusion of a health workshop, there were clear gaps in the outcomes and recommendations from the event.
Background
The 7th Round Table against poverty and social exclusion focussed on the issue of active inclusion in the light of the Commission recommendation and experiments undertaken by the French government in this (...)

The results of an urban audit carried out by the European Commission have revealed great disparities in the quality of life in Europe’s cities. The audit, which covers more than 300 indicators affecting living conditions in 321 cities, will provide a significant resource for decision-making processes at regional. national and European level.
Statistical information was gathered on variables across nine domains, many of which have implications for health inequalities (demographics, social (...)

This study, carried out by Swedish scientists, compares the public health policies of eight European countries.
Background of the study In 2003, the Swedish Parliament adopted a comprehensive public health policy that covered all the important health determinants, ranging from societal conditions to lifestyles. In order to compare the mechanism established there, and to make up for the lack of research into public health matters, a group of Swedish scientists decided to ask their European (...)

The 17th October 2007 is International Day Against Poverty. To mark the day and increase its impact human rights NGOs from four different continents have come together to launch a declaration that calls for all citizens, local and national authorities, and the United Nations to recognise poor and excluded people as key stakeholders in the fight against poverty and ensure that they are able to fully participate in decisions that affect them.
You can support the declaration Ending extreme (...)