Kolkata, July 9 (IANS) Nobel laureate economist Amartya Sen Saturday said health is a political issue and inequality a prime reason behind bad public health.

"Health is indeed a political subject. If you ask for better public policy... and better public policies come from the government, then that of course is a matter of politics," said Sen while addressing a seminar here.

"We have to think of it as a political issue and connect the responsibility of the government on one side and the responsibilities of the people to exert whatever influence we can exert on the politics of quality making," he said.

For a country which is anticipating nine percent growth rate, there would be many newly rich people who want better health facilities, Sen said.

"And all rich people want better treatment. If they have money, its good but it also is a reason of tremendous wide as it increases the inequality unless you do something for those who are left behind," he said.

"Inequality is not only dilution of health benefit. It also reduces heath benefits. Inequality itself is a big contributor to bad heath," said Sen.