I'd be grateful if you could tell me who, if anyone, signed this declaration on behalf of the UK Government. The declaration states that 'Good health requires a universal, comprehensive, equitable, effective, responsive and accessible quality health system'; but this is precisely what the Government's Health and Social Care Bill seeks explicitly to remove and to replace with one in which universality, comprehensiveness, accessibility and quality are determined by the vagaries of the market.

Best wishes, Alex Scott-Samuel

World Conference on Social Determinantds of Health
Rio de Janeiro Brazil, October 21, 2011

Available online at bit.ly/q5anfm

The Rio Political Declaration on Social Determinants of Health expresses global political commitment for the implementation of a social determinants of health approach to reduce health inequities and to achieve other global priorities. It will help to build momentum within WHO Member States for the development of dedicated national action plans and strategies.

Process of development

On 15 August 2011, the text was circulated to Geneva-based Permanent Missions of Member States. The first meeting of Member States, convened by the Government of Brazil, was held at WHO headquarters on 7 September, 2011. This was followed by a series of informal consultations attended by representatives of Permanent Missions. The text of the declaration was finalized during the conference in Rio de Janeiro on 19-21 October, 2011.

https://www.twitter.com/eqpaho