Wales to be a Marmot Nation to tackle health inequalities
The move follows the earlier adoption of the Marmot principles in Torfaen, which became a Marmot region when the wider Gwent area took up the approach.
Sarah Murphy, the minister for mental health and wellbeing, said: "Becoming a Marmot Nation is about acknowledging that health inequalities are mostly shaped by the social determinants of health – the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age.
"In Torfaen, we can see positive change at community level due to organisations working together innovatively.
"By adopting these eight Marmot principles nationally, we will be taking action across government to support better health and wellbeing for all."
The Welsh Government will now work with the Institute of Health Equity, led by Professor Sir Michael Marmot, to embed health equity into all areas of policy and decision-making.
Sir Michael's eight Marmot principles address the root causes of health inequalities by focusing on factors such as education, employment, living standards and community wellbeing.
The decision builds on Wales' Well-being of Future Generations Act, which places a legal duty on public bodies to consider the long-term impact of their decisions on social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing.
Sir Michael Marmot said: "A society that meets the needs of its members will have good health and relatively small inequalities in health.
"Healthcare is, of course, important for health.
"More important are social circumstances, as summarised in the eight Marmot Principles.
"The policy implications are clear.
"Health policy is for the whole of government, not just for the health department or the NHS."
The Canada-UK Council's UK co-chair, Professor Nicolas Maclean, also welcomed the announcement.
Professor Maclean said: "The Canada-UK Council warmly welcomes this important new initiative by the Welsh Government, which follows our annual colloquium hosted last December in Cardiff by leaders such as Jeremy Miles and Mark Drakeford.
"The theme of our colloquium, chaired by Sir Michael Marmot, was 'overcoming unequal health outcomes in the UK and Canada.'
"Today's announcement will set an example around the world."
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