Is Health Linked to Wealth?

Health, as defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO), is "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”.  With wealthier people showing less signs of psychological distress and better self-rated health, it is undeniable that health and wealth are linked closely. According to a study by the Health Foundation, 44% of people on the lowest incomes rate their health as fair, bad or very bad (‘less than good’). In the middle (the fifth income decile) this figure is 25% and for people on the highest incomes, the figure is 12%. 

Why does being poor so frequently mean worse health? Despite supposed equal access to healthcare via the NHS in the UK, the health-wealth divide is clear. There are a variety of factors that can impact a person's health, and many of these factors are often inaccessible to poorer people. In extreme cases, a lack of access to necessities can cause instant and severe declines in health.

Poverty rates in the UK recently reached 18% in 2023. The Oxford Dictionary defines poverty as the state of being poor, which means lacking the basic needs for life, such as food, health, education, and shelter. All these factors directly impact access or the quality of health, both physical and mental. 

To combat the issue, policy reform aimed at providing both short and long-term solutions to provide equal access to essential services, such as healthcare and housing, could mitigate some of the impacts on health for those in poverty. Moreover, improvements to public education with a target on low-income communities is essential for tackling the health crisis for low-income people. 

The link between health and wealth is not often discussed, and if the government wants to focus on improving the lives of low income people, they must focus on the gaps in health.