Published 8 July 2008, doi:10.1136/bmj.a589
Cite this as: BMJ 2008;337:a589

Head to Head

Should disadvantaged people be paid to take care of their health? Yes.

¹ Department of Social Policy and Social Work, University of York, York YO10 5DD

Feature, doi: 10.1136/bmj.a673

Many countries are turning to cash incentives to encourage people to look after their health. Richard Cookson argues that such schemes can save money in the long run, but Jennie Popay (doi: 10.1136/bmj.a594) believes the problems need a deeper solution

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

One reason the NHS costs so much is that people do not look after their health. Unhealthy behaviours impose huge costs on society as well as harming the individual. For example, the painful and costly outcome of tooth decay requiring reconstructive surgery in young children is preventable through simple actions by parents, such as supervising tooth brushing and limiting consumption of sugary drinks. Better access to free preventive dental care might help, but this is also a behavioural problem.

Unhealthy behaviours are particularly pervasive among disadvantaged people, who are less responsive to health promotion messages (such as take folic acid before pregnancy or read to your toddler) and less likely to take up free public health services (such as screening programmes). The causes are complex and structural—stressful material conditions and social environments leading to poor mental health and chaotic lifestyles rather than idleness or wantonness as was popularly thought in . . . [Full text of this article]

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