Racism and health

doi:10.1136/bmj.326.7394.880

BMJ 2003;326:880 ( 19 April )

Letters

Racism and health

Challenge to racism must continue

Author's reply

Australia's Aboriginals suffer disproportionate burden of ill health

Challenge to racism must continue

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR $---$ As McKenzie highlights in his editorial, the emphasis to date has been on the role of racism in recruitment and careerdevelopment.¹ This must continue despite initiatives and legislationsuch as the recent Race Relations Amendment Act, as racism stillexists in the NHS.² We need to continue to challenge racismnot only from our colleagues but also from our patients $---$ zero toleranceis needed.³

The importance of racism on health and health care will not diminish owing to increasing migration to the United Kingdom particularlyfrom east European countries. The often hostile reception of thepublic, media, and some politicians reinforces the negative attitudesthat prevail,⁴ and these may manifest through acute and chronicstress to the detriment of the individual. Research on evaluatingthe mechanism for racism and health outcomes is in early infancy;most studies are being conducted in the United States. We agreewith . . . [Full text of this article]