Sir Michael Marmot has just been appointed as the new President of the British Medical Association. He is a strong spokesman for social determinants of health and made six recommendations in his “Inequalities Review”:
[ul]Give every child the best start in life
Ensure the population are educated and literate
Ensure that employment conditions are safe and healthy for workers
Ensure that everyone has enough income for healthy living
Support sustainable communities
Focus on prevention.
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He says: “It’s not all about money. It’s very much about social conditions. The real determinants of health lie outside the healthcare system.” He recommends things as simple as reading to children daily.
Another recommendation that might be added relates to law and order and anti-bullying measures given statements such as: “Murder and suicide cause more years of lost life than cancer and heart disease together.”