Health is influenced by much more than individual choices. Income, housing, education, access to nutritious food, transport and the ability to afford healthcare can all affect a person’s health and wellbeing.

When people have to choose between essential expenses, healthcare may be delayed or skipped altogether. Preventative care can become less accessible, while manageable health problems may become more serious.

The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty draws attention to these wider factors and the need for systems that allow people to access the essentials required for a healthy life.

Improving health therefore also means addressing the social and economic barriers that can make good health harder to achieve.