Health inequalities in the EU: Report published by the EC

A report has been published outlining new evidence on health inequalities in the European Union (EU) and the policy response at EU and national level to health inequalities since 2009.

The report:

• Confirms significant inequalities in health between and within EU Member States, which for the most part are similar to those identified in ‘Health inequalities: Europe in profile’ (2006). Some inequalities have increased, while others have decreased, suggesting that significant headway has not been made in the EU in reducing health inequalities.
• Demonstrates marked differences in the social determinants of health - in turn caused by the existence of marked social inequalities - across EU Member States and inequalities in health between social groups based on these determinants.
• Examines the factors causing health inequalities. Like the WHO CSDH, this report agrees that health inequalities result from social inequalities in the conditions of daily life and their fundamental drivers (e.g. early childhood, employment conditions, social spending and protection, etc.) that give rise to them.
• Presents research showing the policy response to health inequalities in EU member states and regions. Countries' responses are characterised as having a: 1) Relatively positive and active response, 2) Variable response, 3) Relatively undeveloped response to health inequalities. These results, including those showing that serious headway has not been made in tackling health inequalities in EU countries, justify the headline conclusion of the WHO Europe report which was that all countries can do something to improve the social determinants of health, do more, or do better with their existing policies and spending. Worryingly, the research suggests a widening of the policy response across EU member states since 2006.
• Provides a comprehensive set of recommendations for the European Commission, and individual member states and regions.

The report was co-ordinated by the UCL Institute for Health Equity and involved a variety of partners in the DRIVERS consortium.