A healthy system only for the wealthy

Congratulations on your editorial "Hearts and health, wealth and equity" (Herald, March 24).

It recognises the crux of the problem in health care - that "people at the top of the socio-economic ladder have it much easier than those on lower rungs".

The research cited in the article supports the fundamental need for a universal health care system, because so much illness "is more common among the poor, the marginalised, the dispossessed".

We strongly agree that governments "have an obligation to intervene to help correct the most extreme imbalances in the health of the community".

Yet, under the Howard Government, the disparity between the rich and the poor has widened and support for universality has diminished.

The continuation of bulk-billing is vital to ensure that those most in need of help receive it.

(Dr) Con Costa, President, Doctors Reform Society (NSW), Ashfield, March 25.