SHAHID Malik has been appointed by Health Secretary Alan Milburn to serve on a ten-man health policy commission.

Mr Malik, 33, of Colne Road, Burnley, the son of Burnley's deputy mayor, Rafique Malik, will sit on the body charged to help set out and develop government policy for the next general election and beyond. The group also includes Health Ministers John Hutton and Hazel Blears.

He is also a member of the Labour Party's National Executive and a representative for the Commission for Racial Equality.

He said: "It will be an immense challenge at perhaps the most critical time in the history of the NHS. I know nobody underestimates the size of that challenge.

"For most people the NHS is the most important institution in this country, and the provision of high quality health services, based upon need and not the ability to pay, is one of the British values that we hold dearest.

"We all love the NHS, but we would all accept that it is not perfect, and the group will focus on areas such as national funding, health service reform and capacity."

Mr Malik said he is particularly keen to tackle some of the inequalities that currently exist within the NHS.

"It must also look at preventative work with young people, the poor and tackling issues such as advertising harmful and addictive products.

"Research last week shows that a staggering one in four boys aged 11, drink alcohol at least once a week, and that your life expectancy can vary by up to 15 years depending on whether you live in one for the country's richest or poorest neighbourhoods.

"These are some of the wider challenges for us. It is obvious, after decades of under-investment, the NHS has problems with both the standards of buildings and equipment and the numbers of trained staff, and these must be a priority."

On the issue of funding, Mr Malik said: "I believe there is a national consensus on two issues. Firstly, most people would be happy to pay an extra 1p or so in tax if it would help further improve the NHS, and secondly, the greatest asset that NHS possesses are its hard working and dedicated staff."