Equity is the absence of unfair, avoidable or remediable differences among groups of people, whether those groups are defined socially, economically, demographically, or geographically or by other dimensions of inequality (e.g. sex, gender, ethnicity,
disability, or sexual orientation). Health is a fundamental human right. Health equity is achieved when everyone can attain their full potential for health and well-being.
Health and health equity are determined by the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, play and age, as well as biological determinants. Structural determinants (political, legal, and economic) with social norms and institutional
processes shape the distribution of power and resources determined by the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, play and age.
People’s living conditions are often made worse by discrimination, stereotyping, and prejudice based on sex, gender, age, race, ethnicity, or disability, among other factors. Discriminatory practices are often embedded in institutional and systems
processes, leading to groups being under-represented in decision-making at all levels or underserved.
Progressively realizing the right to health means systematically identifying and eliminating inequities resulting from differences in health and in overall living conditions.
