This briefing looks at who Britain's minority ethnic groups are and if they are more or less healthy than average. It also discusses the particular health problems for minority ethnic groups, and what causes ethnic variations in health. It then asks if health services are able to deal with the specific health needs of minority ethnic groups. Finally, it lists the three areas in which the health of people from minority groups could be improved in tandem with that of the rest of the population: tackling the root causes of ill health, such as poverty and social exclusion; tackling the effects of racism; and improving access to appropriate health care.