Restoring Britain’s health to 2014 levels could add 2% to GDP, thinktank says
Summary
A thinktank report says improving the UK population’s health to what it was in 2014 could add 2% to the country’s economic output and bring £72 billion more in public money through higher taxes and lower health costs. The report highlights that poor health reduces the number of people able to work and increases government spending on healthcare and benefits.Key Facts
- The UK’s healthy life expectancy fell by two years between 2014 and 2022-24.
- The number of working-age people with long-term health conditions rose from 11.7 million to 15.7 million.
- People in the richest areas live up to 20 years longer in good health than those in the poorest areas.
- Poor health increases costs for the NHS and disability benefits and reduces tax revenue because fewer people can work.
- Restoring health levels to those of 2014 could increase economic output by £57 billion.
- This improvement could also boost public finances by £72 billion through higher taxes and lower social security and healthcare spending.
- The UK is one of five rich countries experiencing a decline in healthy life expectancy over the past decade.
- The research calls for more focus on preventing illness and investing in public health, not just treatment.
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