THE Scottish Government will hold discussions with Labour this week to address the disproportionate impact that Covid-19 is having on ethnic minorities.
MSP Anas Sarwar is urging the Government to record and publish detailed data to help establish if there is indeed a greater risk to Scotland’s black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) community.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman, responding to a letter from Sarwar, said that she takes the matter “very seriously”.
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “The Health Secretary responded directly to Mr Sarwar as soon as she received his correspondence, assuring him that she recognised he has raised important points and expressed a concern she shared.
“Ms Freeman also advised Mr Sarwar that she intended to provide a fuller response early next week with the view of having a further discussion with him.
“The Scottish Government is deeply concerned by recent reports indicating that minority ethnic communities may be disproportionately affected by Covid-19. It is crucial we have an accurate picture of how Covid-19 is impacting on minority ethnic communities in Scotland, so we can take the appropriate action.”
Analysis by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found black men and women in England and Wales are more than four times more likely to die a coronavirus-related death than white people after accounting for age, while people of Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Indian and mixed ethnicities also had an increased risk of death involving Covid-19 compared with those of white ethnicity.
Sarwar said the Scottish Government should recognise that BAME frontline healthcare workers may be at increased risk from the complications of Covid-19 and will require “risk assessment” of their roles if Scottish data mirrors that of England.
He said: “In return for the lifesaving work they are doing on the front line, Scotland’s ethnic minority communities deserve to know whether they are at a greater risk from Covid-19 and – if so – what steps can be taken to prevent further loss of life.
“I have written to the Scottish Government with a number of questions and recommendations, including what lessons were learnt from a 2015 study into high rates of lower respiratory tract infection among Scots of Pakistani origin.
“I believe tailored messaging for Scotland’s BAME population could improve health outcomes, including the promotion of vitamin D supplements.
“The Health Secretary assures me that she takes this very seriously and I welcome the opportunity for further discussions with her this week.”
He suggested the Scottish Government should engage with Public Health England as part of its inquiry, and consider whether a Scottish inquiry is necessary.
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