The Office for National Statistics is consulting on a new measure for health in England, recognising that the nation’s health is an asset – as important to the economy and wider society as it is to the individual. The proposed health index not only measures how healthy people are today but also looks at the wider social and economic circumstances that will influence our – and the next generation’s – ability to live healthy lives in the future. Tracking these indicators over time provides the opportunity to finally look beyond GDP as a sole measure of national success.
The proposed index includes three areas:
- Healthy people – includes MSK conditions
- Healthy lives – includes many of the determinants of MSK health such as physical activity and obesity
- Healthy places – includes access to green spaces, distance to services including leisure and sport facilities
Tracking these indicators over time provides the opportunity to finally look beyond GDP as a sole measure of national success.
The consultation is open until 3 March 2021.
This webinar from the Health Foundation explains more about the background and how such a measure might be used.