Social inequalities in health represent one of the greatest challenges in health policy worldwide. In all countries, significant differences in health levels are observed between the economically stronger and weaker social classes. In addition to the provision of inadequate medical and pharmaceutical care, key causes of social health inequalities include low income, degraded living conditions, unhealthy working conditions, as well as limited social and personal capital.
Other social factors also play an important role, such as gender, the cultural specificity of each social group, and the health behaviors adopted by individuals.
This book is a collective effort to define the key relevant concepts, understand the causes of the phenomenon, document international and Greek research data, and propose solutions to address social inequalities in health in our country. The proposals concern all social determinants of inequalities. However, they place special emphasis on the necessary changes for the restructuring of the National Health System (NHS) and for the development of the public health sector.
