Date Published: 15 March 2009

The government must invest in health policies that work, say doctors

The BMA is backing today’s (Sunday 15 March) report by the Health Select Committee calling for the government to only implement policies aimed at reducing health inequalities that are evidence-based. The BMA’s Head of Science and Ethics, Dr Vivienne Nathanson, said today:

“There is overwhelming evidence that key interventions like mandatory food-labelling, reducing smoking and encouraging walking and cycling will reduce health inequalities. The BMA agrees with the Health Select Committee that these are the policies that the government should be focussing on.

While there is no magic cure on this issue, the government should reinstate tough targets to combat tobacco smuggling and reward GPs who are successful in helping their patients quit smoking.

There is no bottomless pit of resources to tackle health inequalities so it is essential that the government spends taxpayers’ money wisely and on projects that will work. It is important that policies are part of a joined up, cross departmental approach.”

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