Socioeconomic determinants of health in Australia: policy responses and intervention options

Tackling socioeconomic health inequalities represents one of Australia's mo st challenging public health issues. Research has demonstrated that the role of physicians and other health prof essionals, as advocates for change in the delivery of health services. publ ic health policy and other community-wide initiatives, is extremely importa nt in reducing mortality and improving health outcomes. Multilevel actions to reduce health inequalities should include changes to macrolevel social and economic policies; improving living and working condi tions; strengthening communities for health; improving behavioural risk fac tors; empowering individuals and strengthening their social networks; and i mproving responses from the healthcare system and associated treatment serv ices. Australia has yet to develop a coordinated and integrated approach to addre ssing health disparities; however. previously successful public health inte rventions addressing other health issues are good starring points.