The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) in the U.K. has signed a letter as part of the Inequalities in Health Alliance to the new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Dr. Thérèse Coffey.
The letter urges Coffey to publish a white paper on health disparities by the end of 2022 as planned and to commit to a cross-government strategy to reduce health inequalities. The letter states that health inequalities are "unfair and avoidable differences" in health and access to healthcare across the population, and between different groups within society.
The letter also states that action needs to be taken on issues such as lack of educational opportunity, racism and discrimination, and child poverty.
Health organizations will continue to be "in the ultimately unsustainable position of trying to treat illnesses created by the environments people live in," without coordinated cross-government action, the letter continued.
The full letter can be found on the RCR's site.
