Policy Hub
On 8 April 2009, the OECD published a paper (Measuring disparities in health status and in access and use of health care in OECD countries) which assesses the availability and comparability of selected indicators of inequality in health status as well as in health care access and use across OECD countries.
The paper notes that most OECD countries have set key policy objectives relating to the reduction of inequalities in health status and the principle of adequate or equal access to health care based on need. The OECD argues that these policy objectives require an evidence-based approach to determine and measure progress.
Indicators of inequality are illustrated using national or cross-national data sources to stratify populations by income, education or occupation level. In each case, the paper finds that people in lower socioeconomic groups tend to experience a higher rate of disease, disability and death; use less preventive and specialist health services than expected on the basis of their need; and for certain goods and services may be required to pay a proportionately higher share of their income.
The paper concludes that the increased availability and comparability of data can only serve to improve the validity of cross-national comparisons of socioeconomic inequalities in health status and health care access and use. Harmonisation of definitions and collection instruments plus the greater use of data linkages in order to allow disaggregation by socioeconomic status will determine whether health inequalities can be routinely monitored across OECD countries.
Measuring disparities in health status and in access and use of health care in OECD countries (PDF)