A new report from Public Health Wales and Liverpool John Moores University has set out six key policy actions that could tackle health inequalities across Wales.

The join report, commissioned by Public Health Wales and led by the university’s Faculty of Health and Public Health Institute, analysed policy actions from seven countries which worked to reduce health inequalities and improve life expectancy.

Analysing these case studies, the report sets out how Wales can learn from this countries and how these actions could be adapted and implemented in Wales.

The report focused on six key areas that could help tackle health inequalities in Wales. There were:

Paying attention to reducing waiting times in health services and developing collaborative approaches to develop prevention services at a local level, income security and social protection, and developing opportunities that put health at the centre of housing policy in Wales.

Additionally, Wales has committed to focusing on becoming a wellbeing economy rather than just focusing on economic growth, looking at better working and employment conditions, as well as investing in policies related to early years, childhood and adolescence as these early periods of life often set precedents for health later down the line.

Sumina Azam, national director for policy and international health at Public Health Wales, said: “This comprehensive joint study, which has analysed exemplary policies tackling health inequalities globally underlines our commitment to creating a healthier and fairer society for the people of Wales.

“The highlighted policy actions in this report provide us with areas where we need to work collaboratively to achieve a healthier Wales for everyone.

“We must also work together to reduce barriers which prevent people in Wales from access the services and building blocks of health they need to achieve good health.”