Several nations in the world are increasingly becoming diverse – a considerable portion of the global population falls under ethnic minority groups. Even though there has been improvement in health indicators such as child mortality and life expectancy, a few minorities are experiencing disproportionate burden related to death, disability, and preventable diseases, when compared with the non-minorities

Reducing Health Disparities is the way to achieve Health Equity

The concept of Public health aims at reducing health disparities. Achieving health equity needs to be the primary objective in a civilized world. Health Equity is said to have been reached when all the people have equal opportunity to attain the best possible health regardless of race or financial status. The difference in healthcare outcomes and their causes within groups of people is called Health Disparity. The goal of any responsible administration must be avoiding such disparities while improving the overall health of all citizens of the nation.

The present disparity in health care delivery occurs normally according to socioeconomic and racial factors in priority populations that include ethnic and social minorities, low-income group people, elderly people, children, and rural population, apart from disabled individuals.

Areas where Disparity of Care Quality is Common

• In America, Whites receive better health care than Blacks
• Asians receive worse care compared with Whites
• Poor people are offered worse care than the more affluent ones

How to Eliminate Health Disparities

Strategic plans must be devised for reducing Ethnic and Racial Health Disparities through pre-set goals followed by scheduled actions. Department of Health needs to take necessary initiative toward reducing health disparities among minorities. It must commit to constantly assess the effect of all the programs and policies on ethnic and racial disparities.

It needs to promote evidence-oriented programs and approaches and best practices for bringing down such disparities. The chief objectives of Health Disparities Action plan must be aimed at achieving the following:

• Bring about a transformation of healthcare
• Strengthen the country’s health services and human services infrastructure and the workforce
• Improve the safety, well-being, and health of the citizens of the nation
• Encourage innovation and improve scientific knowledge
• Enhance the efficiency, accountability, and transparency of the programs of minority health

Improving general health care and advancing health equity ensures that all the people have equal opportunity to live healthy and long lives. To be able to reduce health disparities, not only public health professionals but also community workers need to join hands and provide strategic design and implementation of a program that reduces health disparities considerably!