Reducing socioeconomic health inequalities: issues of relevance for policy.

During the twentieth century, the health of the Australian population improved markedly: life expectancy increased; the toll of communicable disease was reduced; and, in more recent times, death rates for cardiovascular disease and a number of major cancers have begun to decline. However, against this backdrop of improving overall health, large health inequalities continue to exist between socioeconomic groups; and, for some conditions, these inequalities are increasing over time.