A RESEARCH unit to examine health inequalities in Scotland was opened by Health Minister Sam Galbraith yesterday during a visit to Glasgow University, writes Valerie Hannah.
The MRC Social and Public Health Sciences Unit will investigate how social class, the environment, and differences in race and gender influence health. Mr Galbraith described its opening as ''an important moment'' for public health. He said: ''Two themes of our approach to improving public health in Scotland are partnership and the need for a broad view of the determinants of health.
''The new unit reflects both these themes. Its mission is to improve health through the study of the social, structural, and environmental influences on health. It is well equipped to meet all these challenges.''
The unit is co-sponsored by the Medical Research Council and the Chief Scientist's Office of the Scottish Office.
Professor Sally Macintyre, unit director, said: ''We are particularly interested in examining ways of improving population health and reducing health inequalities, and then rigorously testing the effectiveness of any proposed interventions, particularly outside the health-care sector, for example in housing or transport.
''We believe research into the determinants of health inequalities in Scotland will benefit the formulation of health policies elsewhere in the world.''
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