Perception of health inequalities in different social classes, by health professionals and health policy makers in Germany and in the United Kingdom

The paper focuses on the following question: What is known about the existence and the extent of health inequalities, their explanations and potential ways to reduce them, by members of the lower social class, by health professionals and by health policy makers? By health inequalities we mainly refer to differences in morbidity and mortality between socio-economic groups, i.e. differences in morbidity and mortality by education, occupation and income. The paper looks at the problem of health inequalities from an 'actor-perspective'. Concerning the perspective of health professionals and health policy makers, information is mainly provided from Germany, where the funding institution and the first author are based. Concerning the perspective of the lower social class, however, information is mainly provided from the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom is the Western European country with the greatest breadth of research on health inequalities; thus it can serve as a role model for Germany, where this kind of research is still rather limited. The review shows that we know very little about the perception of health inequalities by these actors. Research on health inequalities still seems to be rather isolated from the beliefs and values of the people most concerned, at least in Germany and in the United Kingdom. Promoting the discussion on the perception of health inequalities would help to develop strategies addressed at reducing them.