A new government office is launched on Friday to “tackle health disparities across the UK,” the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said. The new Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), a branch of the DHSC, is tasked to focus on the prevention of illnesses by tackling unhealthy habits that are “more prevalent in more deprived areas,” and coordinating with other government departments to “address the wider drivers of good health, from employment to housing, education, and the environment.” The DHSC said Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid has written to community leaders, charities, industry experts, and key employers on Friday, asking them to “join the OHID’s mission to act on wider factors that affect people’s health, such as work, housing, and education.” The new office will be headed by DHSC Director General for the OHID, Jonathan Marron, and Dr. Jeanelle de Gruchy, who is newly appointed as England’s deputy chief medical officer, …