The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7225 p734
23 November 2002

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DoH: 2002 Cross-Cutting Review (more)

NHS to target health inequalities

The National Health Service is to give a greater emphasis to tackling health inequalities following a review carried out by the Department of Health and HM Treasury.

There will be an accelerated drive to combat smoking, the principal cause of avoidable death in the United Kingdom. There is to be greater use of smoking cessation products following a "cash-back" agreement with the four main pharmaceutical companies which manufacture these products. The companies will give rebates to the Government when products purchased by the NHS exceed certain thresholds. This will allow local health services to invest in these products, the Department says.

The cross-cutting review on health inequalities says that the top priorities should also include improving homes and reducing accidents, and improving the support for young children and teenagers.

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