News

Debate begins on Labour’s health strategy

The government’s ideas on public health became clearer in February with the publication of the green paper Our healthier nation, Labour’s alternative to the Conservative Health of the Nation strategy.

The consultation paper proposes four targets – on heart disease and stroke, accidents, cancer and mental health – and a focus on ‘healthy schools’, ‘healthy workplaces’ and ‘healthy neighbourhoods’.

‘There are huge inequalities in our society,’ said Frank Dobson, the secretary of state for health, in announcing the green paper. ‘And the worst inequalities are in health.’

But Labour came in for immediate criticism for failing to commit itself to policies which would explicitly reduce income inequality.

David Player, Public Health Alliance chair, said: ‘We think that the Treasury should set “wealth index” targets, to have a specific policy on maximum ratios between the highest incomes and the lowest. And the paper fails to address the issue of sustainable development for health.’

Maria Duggan, policy co-ordinator for the Association for Public Health, said: ‘During the consultation phase, we will be pressing for a greater emphasis on inequalities and on monitoring the health impact of a wide range of government policies on health.’

Minister for Public Health interviewed: pages 6-7.