By Martin Banks - 21st November 2011
Health inequalities persist across the EU within and between member states
Clive Needle
Parliament has adopted a report designed to tackle EU-wide poverty and social exclusion.
MEPs endorsed the so-called 'EU platform against poverty and social exclusion' by an overwhelming majority.
Reaction was swift with the NGO, EuroHealthNet, saying it hopes the move will prove a "key move" towards firm action against addressing poverty and social exclusion across a broad range of policies.
Clive Needle, EuroHealthNet director, said, "The health of EU citizens is determined by the conditions in which they are born, grow, live, work and age.
"These circumstances, which are shaped by policy choices, are mostly responsible for health inequalities – the unfair and avoidable differences in health status between and within countries.
"Health inequalities persist across the EU within and between member states, and there is evidence that they are widening.
"They result in life expectancy gaps - between EU member states there is a five-fold difference in deaths of babies under one year of age, a 14 year gap in life expectancy at birth for men and an eight year gap for women.
"They also result in significant economic costs - health inequalities related losses have a significant impact on productivity. They have been estimated to cost around €141bn annually."
He added, "Good health contributes to sustainable economic development, including through improving inclusion, labour market participation and productivity.
"In turn, improved living and working conditions have contributed to an increase in the wellbeing and life expectancy of the whole EU population. Thus health and social progress is interdependent."
