Report reveals that avoidable cost of health inequalities is now greater than most European nations' combined GDP
European nations face an annual bill of more than €1.3tn (£1.1tn) as the lives of the poorest in society are shortened through illness and disability, a EU report claims. New figures show that the "avoidable cost of health inequalities" is greater than most European nations' GDP, and the report warns that "ignoring the social, economic and health costs of health inequalities will risk economic recovery".
The study reveals that losses in labour productivity cost the continent €141bn, and premature deaths another €1.3tn – greater than the economies of 24 EU nations. By comparison, the UK's economy, the third biggest in Europe, was worth €1.9tn.
There are wide variations between countries. The gap in healthy life expectancy, which measures how long people live without disability, was 19 years for males and 18.4 years for females between countries with the highest and lowest rates. For life expectancy, the gap was 13.4 years for males and 10.6 years for females.
However, the research pointed out, "Only the wealthiest enjoy better health, with the overwhelming majority of us increasingly and unnecessarily being disabled by ill health, or are dying prematurely as a result of avoidable health inequalities."
Professor Sir Michael Marmot, of the UCL Institute of Health Equity, who led the group that prepared the evidence for the EU, said: "We know health inequalities are killing on a grand scale. While the impact of the economic recession is likely to have increased these risks, the start of the recovery is an opportunity to begin to reduce them."
Last year Marmot warned that the UK's current high level of young people not in employment, education or training was a "public health timebomb waiting to explode". The evidence today was that Europe's recent slump had planted similar devices in other economies.
The group of experts is calling for EU funds to support action to reduce health inequalities, including programmes that promote early development, quality education and training, and fair and safe employment.
Peter Goldblatt, Marmot's deputy at UCL, said the key was the "control that people have over their lives. People who lose control over their lives are more likely to lead disorganised lives and smoke more, have ligh levels of obesity, and be less likely to cope with alcohol."
Goldblatt said that stress came from balance between "reward and effort" in employment. "The lower the status of the job, the worse the balance between effort and reward."
Adonis Georgiadis, the Greek health minister, said: "The economic crisis has taken a heavy toll on the health of wellbeing of citizens across the European Union, particularly in Greece. This is reflected in rising unemployment, the growth of poverty, and the reduction of public services threatening poorer health outcomes and widening health inequalities. Lack of work and opportunities has prevented people – particularly young people – realising their potential and making a full contribution to society."
Jane Ellison MP, the UK government's public health minister, said: "Having led the way over the previous years, one of the challenges for the UK public health agenda remains to reduce health inequalities in order to continue improving health outcomes across the board. This programme shows how this can be done by devising practical approaches to the issues inherent to health inequalities and by building on impetus across Europe." Reported by guardian.co.uk 3 hours ago.
European nations face an annual bill of more than €1.3tn (£1.1tn) as the lives of the poorest in society are shortened through illness and disability, a EU report claims. New figures show that the "avoidable cost of health inequalities" is greater than most European nations' GDP, and the report warns that "ignoring the social, economic and health costs of health inequalities will risk economic recovery".
The study reveals that losses in labour productivity cost the continent €141bn, and premature deaths another €1.3tn – greater than the economies of 24 EU nations. By comparison, the UK's economy, the third biggest in Europe, was worth €1.9tn.
There are wide variations between countries. The gap in healthy life expectancy, which measures how long people live without disability, was 19 years for males and 18.4 years for females between countries with the highest and lowest rates. For life expectancy, the gap was 13.4 years for males and 10.6 years for females.
However, the research pointed out, "Only the wealthiest enjoy better health, with the overwhelming majority of us increasingly and unnecessarily being disabled by ill health, or are dying prematurely as a result of avoidable health inequalities."
Professor Sir Michael Marmot, of the UCL Institute of Health Equity, who led the group that prepared the evidence for the EU, said: "We know health inequalities are killing on a grand scale. While the impact of the economic recession is likely to have increased these risks, the start of the recovery is an opportunity to begin to reduce them."
Last year Marmot warned that the UK's current high level of young people not in employment, education or training was a "public health timebomb waiting to explode". The evidence today was that Europe's recent slump had planted similar devices in other economies.
The group of experts is calling for EU funds to support action to reduce health inequalities, including programmes that promote early development, quality education and training, and fair and safe employment.
Peter Goldblatt, Marmot's deputy at UCL, said the key was the "control that people have over their lives. People who lose control over their lives are more likely to lead disorganised lives and smoke more, have ligh levels of obesity, and be less likely to cope with alcohol."
Goldblatt said that stress came from balance between "reward and effort" in employment. "The lower the status of the job, the worse the balance between effort and reward."
Adonis Georgiadis, the Greek health minister, said: "The economic crisis has taken a heavy toll on the health of wellbeing of citizens across the European Union, particularly in Greece. This is reflected in rising unemployment, the growth of poverty, and the reduction of public services threatening poorer health outcomes and widening health inequalities. Lack of work and opportunities has prevented people – particularly young people – realising their potential and making a full contribution to society."
Jane Ellison MP, the UK government's public health minister, said: "Having led the way over the previous years, one of the challenges for the UK public health agenda remains to reduce health inequalities in order to continue improving health outcomes across the board. This programme shows how this can be done by devising practical approaches to the issues inherent to health inequalities and by building on impetus across Europe." Reported by guardian.co.uk 3 hours ago.