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Health Inequalities Task Force
03/10/2007
The first meeting of a task force set up to tackle the major health inequalities facing people across Scotland was held today.
Its purpose is to:
- Agree priorities for cross-cutting government activity that will achieve measurable outcomes in reducing health inequalities
- Identify practical measures to reduce the most significant and widening health inequalities
- Ensure key sectors and organisations that are involved in delivering action on health inequalities work alongside the taskforce in order to build commitment and support
- Report to Cabinet by Summer 2008
Public Health Minister Shona Robison, who chaired the meeting, said:
"Reducing inequalities in health is critical to achieving our aim of making Scotland a better, healthier place for everyone, no matter where they live. While the health of the country as a whole is improving, we cannot hide from the fact that some inequalities are widening. That requires concerted action across government now.
"Health inequalities can be a matter of personal lifestyles such as smoking or lack of physical activity. However, as important are community, economic, cultural and environmental factors.
"I want to ensure that the Scottish Government does everything within its powers to find ways of reducing those inequalities, not only in health, but in all the other factors that lead to some people in Scotland not being able to take advantage of the same opportunities as most of us."
The Task Force includes Ms Robison, Chief Medical Officer Harry Burns, Councillor Ronnie McColl from CoSLA, Professor Carol Tannahill from Glasgow Centre for Population Health and Ken Corsar, NHS Health Board Chair.