The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 275 No 7356 p6
2 July 2005

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Health inequalities “continue to increase”

Health inequalities are continuing to increase despite publication of several public health strategies over the past few years, Gul Root, principal pharmacist at the Department of Health, told delegates at a College of Pharmacy Practice conference last week.

Pointing out that some areas of England still have death rates that are the same as the national average in the 1950s, Mrs Root said: “That is really unacceptable. We have got to do something about it.”

Turning to “Choosing health through pharmacy”, the recent pharmaceutical public health strategy, Mrs Root reminded delegates that the aim is to maximise the contribution of pharmacists, their staff and the premises in which they work, to improve health and reduce health inequalities. “Many pharmacists are already contributing to public health without realising it,” she said, “and we also want other professionals and local authorities to realise the pharmacist’s public health role”.

Mrs Root outlined the opportunities for pharmacy listed in the strategy document and said that the Department of Health would like to see pharmacists getting much more involved in public health campaigns, and eventually administering vaccines, for example.

In terms of progress with implementing the strategy, Mrs Root said that the DoH hopes to set up a national group of key stakeholders in the near future, to provide leadership and support for its implementation.