The Health service in Sri Lanka is considerably better than in Russia despite considerably higher incomes in Russia than Sri Lanka, said Sir Michael Marmott, Professor Epidemiology and Public Health who chaired the World Health Organization's Commission on the Social Determinants of Health. He was speaking at the launch of the new report on health situation in all countries. The report was prepared by the World Health Organisation. Sir Marmott said Sri Lanka was among the countries which had better health facilities than some countries with higher incomes. The economic growth is raising incomes in many countries but increasing national wealth alone does not necessarily increase national health. While there has been an enormous increase in global wealth, technology and living standards in recent years, the key question is how it is used for fair distribution of services and institution building especially in low income countries. In 1980, the richest countries with 10 per cent of the population had a gross national income 60 times that of the poorest countries with 10 per cent of the world's population. After 25 years of globalisation, this difference increase to 122, the commission reported. In the last 15 years, the poorest quintile in many low-income countries had shown a declining share in national consumption. Wealth alone does not determine the health of a nation's population. Some low income countries like Cuba, Costa Rica, China, State of Kerala in India, and Sri Lanka have achieved levels of good health despite relatively low national incomes. But, the Commissioner pointed out, wealth can be wisely used. Nordic countries, for example, have allowed policies that encouraged equality of benefits and services, full employment, gender equity and low levels of social exclusion. This, said the commission, is an outstanding example of what needs to be done everywhere. The commission has inspired and supported action in many parts of the world. Brazil, Canada, Chile, Iran, Kenya, Mozambique, Sri Lanka, Sweden and the UK have become country partners on the basis of their commitment to make progress on the social determinants of health equity and are already developing policies across Governments to tackle them. These examples show that change is possible through political will. There is a long way to go, but the direction is set, say the commissioners, the path clear. The report pointed out that gender equality is thought to be crucial. Equal access of girls to education can make a big difference in determining a community's health, the commission report said. Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said the Commission further indicated that Sri Lanka is one countries which has been providing a free medical service after independence.