The WHO European report confirms links between socioeconomic development and health

Over 300 representatives, including 20 ministers of health, attended the 52nd session of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Committee for Europe, which was held from 16 to 19 September in Copenhagen, Denmark. On this occasion the European Health Report 2002 was released. This report confirms the strong links between socioeconomic development, health and equity in the WHO European Region which covers 51 WHO Member States with some 870 million people. While overall levels of health in the Region are among the highest in the world, the report describes widening gaps between and within countries (www.euro.who.int/europeanhealthreport).