New Marmot review highlights health inequality role for business
A report published today recommends that businesses take action to reduce health inequality, following in the wake of the landmark Marmot reviews into public health.
The UCL Institute of Health Equity has launched The Business of Health Equity: The Marmot Review for Industry, which sets out three ways that business can improve people’s lives by reducing health inequality:
- Promote the health of employees through pay and benefits, hours and job security and conditions of work
- Support the health of clients, customers and shareholders through products and services they provide and investments they make
- Influence the health of individuals in the communities through investment influence, procurement, and supply networks.
The report said that by improving the health of employees, employers can reap the benefits of a more productive workforce. It has been estimated, for example, that 30% of the shortfall in productivity in the ‘Northern Powerhouse’ compared with the rest of England is due to ill health.
The report was published in partnership with Legal & General. It focuses more broadly than workforce health, as most health outcomes are determined by the conditions in which people are born, live, grow, work and age – known as the social determinants of health.
Professor Michael Marmot, Director of UCL’s Institute of Health Equity, said: ‘The COVID-19 pandemic made clear a failing economy damages health. Until now the social determinants of health equity have been the responsibility of government and civil society. Business can be part of the problem of health inequalities. More positively, it can be part of the solution and has a key part to play in improving these social conditions that affect health and health equity: in conditions of work and employment; in goods and services; and in impact on the wider society and environment.’
Sir Nigel Wilson, Chief Executive of Legal & General, said: ‘Reducing health inequalities is a key part of levelling up: literally a matter of life and death. Business can be a force for good in society if we work to identify areas where we can sustainably and positively impact people’s lives. That is the aim of this review and our partnership; for experts such as Sir Michael Marmot to help us and other businesses deliver better health outcomes.’
Photo by Alex Kotliarskyi