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Scotland best in world at tackling health inequality, says medical chief

In 20 years this is the most insightful programme I have seen in the world..

Dr Harry Burns

Originally Published in The Herald, June 20th 2008

THE country's Chief Medical Officer yesterday claimed that Scotland now had the best approach to tackling health inequality in the world.

Dr Harry Burns said: "In 20 years this is the most insightful programme I have seen in the world. This is the best I have seen so far. I am more optimistic than I have ever been."

Dr Burns, who was speaking as MSPs debated the subject, added that the eyes of the world were on Scotland as it produced an approach to healthcare that cut across all departments and between central and local government.

The new focus is on early years, on the basis that the most crucial issue in public health is changing early years, and this was the area fellow health professionals around the world were observing.

Public Health Minister Shona Robison told MSPs yesterday that the government was determined to tackle the issue of health inequality.

Her comment came as she launched a radical rethink of Scotland's efforts to tackle health inequalities. A redesign of public services aimed at improving the situation is backed by fresh funding of £15m - although £1.78bn will be spent in total to tackle health inequalities over the next three years.

"Scotland's health is improving, " Ms Robison told MSPs during a statement to parliament, "but there are stubborn and unacceptable differences between rich and poor.

"For example, there is a 10-year gap in healthy life expectancy for men between the national average and the most deprived areas.

"We will not achieve our overall purpose of sustainable economic growth if such gaps continue to persist."

The report of a ministerial taskforce, entitled Equally Well, will be more widespread than simply looking at areas where people live which she branded "insufficient".

The Task Force also puts its main emphasis on giving children the best start in life, with improved antenatal services and support for families with young children.

Other proposals in the report include working with four NHS boards to strengthen school nursing, especially in the more deprived areas.

Work has already begun with £7m of new funding available over the next three years to take this forward. Checks to identify and support people with depression and anxiety will also be extended.

Ms Robison said that local authority body Cosla had been fully involved in the taskforce's work.