Health inequalities

Health distribution

The Health in All Policies approach is based on an analysis of health distribution and in particular key distributional concerns that relate to health, namely: health and social inequalities. Other distributional matters relate to those that relate to gender, age with a particular focus on social determinants of health. In addition, further focus needs to be given to more vulnerable groups, which may become overlooked as part of policy process and in administrative work, such as those with mental illness, mental or physical disability or chronic illness. 

The countries of Europe have achieved historically unprecedented levels of health and wealth: People now live longer and enjoy better health than 20 years ago. However, wealth and health inequities – that is, differences in health status and health determinants that are considered unfair and avoidable – between and within countries have largely remained or even grown.

Health equity

Greater socioeconomic inequality in society is associated with poorer average health. Furthermore, it cannot be taken for granted that the average positive developments of the past will last into the future. 

When it comes to policy making, policies that are aimed at amending health determinants are not necessarily neutral in terms of their effectiveness in the various subgroups of the population. In general, disadvantaged groups benefit later from improvement in health determinants. 

Policy impacts are often not evenly distributed across different socioeconomic groups. For example, changes in alcohol policy in Finland have had the most detrimental effect on the health of the lowest socioeconomic group. An explicit focus on the determinants of inequalities in health is necessary in order to ensure improved equity in health.