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Experts from UCL鈥檚 Institute of Health Equity are informing strategies to address health inequalities that have worsened during coronavirus and which go beyond problems in health care systems.

During the coronavirus pandemic,听England recorded听more excess deaths听per听million听population听than almost every other听European听country.听A听disproportionate听number听of听people听who died听were听from听black, Asian and minority ethnic groups.听

In 2010,听the听UK听government commissioned听Professor听Michael听Marmot听(UCL Institute of Health Equity)听to听review what听government, together with听society听as a whole,听could听do听to reduce health inequalities.听听

A decade later, before the coronavirus pandemic,听he听published听a follow-on report that听assessed听progress and made听recommendations for further action,听informed by indicator analyses听carried out听in the intervening years.听听听

鈥�鈥淐OVID-19 has exposed and amplified the underlying inequalities in our society that have led to inequalities in health.鈥澨�

The听new report provides evidence that national policies can make a difference. But听Professor Marmot asserts听we could have done more, and sooner:听鈥淎usterity measures have hindered progress, reducing support for communities,听and听hitting socially disadvantaged individuals the hardest.听

鈥淐OVID-19 has exposed and amplified these underlying inequalities in our society that have led听to inequalities in health.听In developing strategies to tackle health inequalities we need to confront the social gradient in health, not just the difference between those worst off and everybody else,鈥澨齢e asserts.听

The reports both make听clear that policies and interventions must go beyond the health care system, to听address听the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age.听

Professor Marmot warns that even before the pandemic听the听UK was falling behind the rest of Europe听on measures of human development, such as life expectancy.听听

鈥淐ountries which fared better during the pandemic are those that听do better听than England听on measures of inclusiveness and personal security.听We need to听take action听at a variety of levels听to address issues such as听structural racism,听inclusiveness,听food security,听housing听and equitable employment.听

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Watch听Professor Michael Marmot speaking听on 鈥楽ocial justice, health equity and COVID-19听in a UCL Population Health Sciences webinar

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