How can primary care increase equity in health?

The papers by Turrell and Harding remind us that we need to see any action to tackle health inequalities in the wider social context of income distribution, employment, community infrastructure and global forces. As big as the health system is, it still plays only a small part in the overall solutions. Turrell emphasises the need for action on upstream, midstream and downstream influences on health. Harding, in a sequel to a paper published in the Bulletin last year (Volume 12, Number 5), reminds us that all data sources must be scrutinised carefully.