Policy Analysis on Social Determinants of Health and Inequality in Primary Healthcare

Running Head: POLICY ANALYSIS 1
Policy Analysis
Author’s Name
Institution
Date

POLICY ANALYSIS 2
Introduction
The social determinants of health refer to the societal surroundings that are distributed
among a certain population and have great influence on the personal and group differences in
their health status (Braveman & Gottlieb, 2014). These factors are either health promoting or
health limiting factors that are found in one’s working or living environments like the
distribution of resources, revenue, influence, power and wealth (Marmot & Allen, 2014). The
differences in the social determinants lead to inequality which has effects on the health issues
such as the adverse effect on the primary health care. This assignment consists of the policy
analysis in which the association between a social health determinant and a health issue is
discussed. The article will then discuss the recommendations for action to modify the
determinant or the relationship. The social determinant of health that will be discussed in this
article is the social gradient that has been brought about by social exclusion, unemployment,
differences in social support, income and education disparities. This social determinant has
caused inequality, especially in the primary healthcare setting. Therefore the relationship
between inequality and the issue of varied primary health care services will be discussed and
recommendations made on how to better the primary health care service delivery.
Issue/Purpose and Background and Audience Identification
The audience of this analysis is the government as this analysis between inequality and
delivery of primary health care can be used by the government to formulate policies that ensure
equality in the offering of primary health care (Ottersen, 2014). There has been a lack of proper
policies to ensure equality in the health sector especially in the delivery of primary health care.
The inequality has been brought about by poverty, oppression, injustice and exploitation of the
poor. For instance, inequality in the delivery of primary care in Australia has made the poor

POLICY ANALYSIS 3
Aboriginal population who reside in the remote parts to have reduced life expectancy as
compared to other populations who live in the urban centers and have access to better primary
health care (Badland et al. 2014).This, therefore, shows that persons with less income and lower
education levels have less control over their lives and their health and therefore injustices occur
in service delivery.
Reason Why This Issue Is Important And Why People Care
This issue is important since health is one of the social needs of all humanity and
everyone is entitled to have proper primary healthcare despite their education, social, ethnic,
economic or political status. Therefore, health inequality is an urgent issue for all the countries
hence everyone should care about this problem. The various governments and people should care
since equality is better for everyone and inequalities are unjust and unfair (Baum, 2016).
Therefore, everyone should ensure fairness and justice by upholding human rights, opportunities
and justice so that each and every human being can access affordable and equal primary
healthcare. Health inequalities as seen above are socially produced systems that are unfair and
unjust and portray a design across the socio-economic field which is socially formed since no
Law of Nature that declares that the underprivileged should undergo suffering, disease and
untimely death than the rich.
Current Status of The Issue
Currently, there is inequality in the delivery of primary health care for instance for cancer
patients whereby the wealthy receive better healthcare while the poor receive inadequate
healthcare (Hill, Sarfati, Robson & Blakely, 2013). This has sparked debates and justice based
discussions that are being held to ensure equal resource distribution that is needed to eradicate