Health for all - the last evaluation of progress before the year 2000

In the framework of the tri-annual report to WHO of progress towards "Healt h for all" the specific question concerning reduction of inequity in health is addressed. Regional variations in health status represent an important aspect of that question which is of particular interest in a federal countr y where major public health competencies are located at the regional level (cantons in Switzerland). Health status is described by both mortality meas ures (main causes of death) in the population aged 0-64 years and morbidity indicators (rates of disability pensioners) in the same age group. In addi tion to the comparison of mortality and morbidity rates between cantons an "index of dissimilarity" (DI) was used. For both criteria, changes over a t ime period of 10 to 12 years were considered. Results show decreasing trend s of mortality from all and main causes of death in both sexes. While this tendency goes along with decreasing dissimilarity as to male overall mortal ity the corresponding female DI increases, indicating an increase in inequi ty between the cantons. A similar pattern is observed as to morbidity: alth ough rates of disability pensioners went up for both sexes, this increase r esulted in a lower DI-value for men but a higher one for women. The results are discussed against the background of socioeconomic differences (e.g. un employment) between the cantons studied.