Strategies to combat health inequalities via efficient resource allocation: the English approach

Resources are limited, hence we must use them to create the greatest impact. This paper describes the most common health commissioning models in developed countries and delves deeper into the English health commissioning model. It then explores tools used by health authorities to allocate scarce resources such as quality-adjusted life years. The role that doctors currently play and the roles that they should take to minimise the gap between the most and least affluent is examined. Furthermore, it investigates the ethical dilemmas faced by decision-makers in this field and discusses the health inequalities that exist in our society. It analyses the most pertinent research regarding how England is identifying and combating these inequalities and the progress that they have made, if any. The Marmot review is thoroughly evaluated and its impact on the nation's ability to minimise health inequalities is assessed. Consequently, the data clearly shows that although there are better ways to identify health inequalities in England (namely the Health inequalities Dashboard and the Segment tool), the actual inequalities remain the same as 10 years ago and some have actually further increased.