Historic Men’s Health Strategy acknowledges ethnic disparities, implementation must deliver targeted action to address systemic racism or risk leaving most vulnerable men behind
(20 November 2025, London, UK) The Race Equality Foundation has warned that unless racial equity is foundational to the implementing England’s historic Men’s Health Strategy, it risks entrenching rather than addressing the health inequalities affecting Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic men.
The Government’s landmark strategy acknowledges that men from minoritised communities face some of the starkest health inequalities in England. South Asian men experience the highest rates of death from diabetes and heart attacks, Black men have higher prostate cancer incidence, and Gypsy, Roma and Traveller men live on average 10 years less than the general population.
Jabeer Butt OBE, Chief Executive of Race Equality Foundation, said:
“This strategy is a significant first step in addressing a long-neglected area; and we welcome the recognition of the ethnic disparities in men’s health. But acknowledgement without naming and dealing with the key drivers–systemic racism and structural inequality–these disparities will persist.
“Unless racial equity is woven through every stage of implementation, health care will continue to fail the men who face the greatest risks. We ask the Government to match its ambition to eradicate inequalities, with targeted investment and accountability.”
The Race Equality Foundation calls on Government to prioritise three actions:
- Scale investment in community-led, culturally tailored interventions, building on the £3 million community programmes fund announced, and ring-fencing funding specifically for interventions targeting Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic men with greatest need
- Make racial equity a core principle of the Men’s Health Strategy, setting measurable targets for reducing ethnic health disparities, with annual reporting by ethnicity and clear accountability mechanisms.
- Commit to ethnicity-disaggregated data collection and research, making ethnicity data collection mandatory across all men’s health programmes and funding UK-specific research addressing critical evidence gaps on racial health inequalities.
Race Equality Foundation’s Evidence: Proven Community-Led Interventions Work
The Foundation has demonstrated what works. In 2020, the Race Equality Foundation delivered a pilot to engage African and African-Caribbean men at significantly higher risk from high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. The use of trusted spaces–barbershops, faith settings, and workplaces–combined with culturally-competent practitioners and co-designed resources, saw an increased uptake of health checks and improved awareness of silent conditions like hypertension. 23% had undetected high blood pressure. (Source: Race Equality Foundation, Community Approaches to High Blood Pressure Report)
“The Foundation has shown what works,” continues Jabeer Butt OBE, “community-led, anti-racist interventions are not optional, but essential to saving lives. We stand ready to work with the Government, the NHS and community partners to ensure this strategy delivers for those who need it most.”
