Margaret Mead, an anthropologist, was asked by a student how she was able to identify “the first sign of civilization in a culture”(Blumenfeld, 2020). Her answer might surprise you. She went on to describe finding evidence of a healed femur fracture. Why would this suggest civilization? In medicine, we know that a fracture in a long bone such as the femur, will take 6 weeks or more for that fracture to heal. This means that one, or more members of the community would need to provide care to this person in the form of food, water, and protection from threats as this person would be incapacitated from their injury. So much so that they would be unable to care for themselves. If providing healthcare is the definition of a civilization then it stands to reason that we as a society should provide medical care to all members of our community irrespective of socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, geographic location or other social determinants.  

Health equity emphasizes fairness and justice in health. This is a recognition that some disparities exist, and not only in access to health but to the quality of care that is received. There are marginalized communities that face systemic barriers that prevent them from receiving adequate medical attention. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health inequities as “avoidable inequalities in health between groups of people within countries and between countries.” (Social Determinants of Health, 2024) . 

Members of the community can impact and advocate for improved health equity and access to the highest possible healthcare for everyone. Here are some reasons why this is a community issue:

1. Public Health Outcomes: Disparities in healthcare can increase disease burden, and lead to a higher prevalence of preventable diseases. Marginalized communities who face barriers that prevent them from receiving appropriate healthcare inevitably have poorer outcomes. This leads to a strain on the medical community and can impact a multitude of different aspects of public health.  
2. Economic implications: Disease prevention and healthcare screening exams are a part of necessary medical care. When health inequities impact an individual’s ability to receive this care, this can lead to a progression in the disease or medical condition. For some patients, this can require more resources which can include but is not limited to, hospital admissions, invasive treatments, surgeries and long-term care. This can lead to an increase in costs for society as a whole. 
3. Social Justice: Health equity is a matter of human rights. Everyone deserves to have access to healthcare that will allow them to lead healthy productive lives.  Addressing marginalized communities and the barriers they may face in accessing healthcare is an essential step toward creating a more just society.

Despite the growing awareness that barriers to healthcare exist there is still a lack of health equity for all members of our society. Recognizing and identifying the problem is the first step towards a resolution. Advancing health equity is not only a moral but a strategic necessity for improving public health and economic outcomes. As we work toward this goal, we must remember that health is a human right, and achieving health equity will allow for a healthier more stable, and more just society.

Sources

• Blumenfeld, R. (2020, March 21). How A 15,000-Year-Old Human Bone Could Help You Through The Coronacrisis. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/remyblumenfeld/2020/03/21/how-a-15000-year-old-human-bone-could-help-you-through-the--coronavirus/
• Social determinants of health: Key concepts. (2024). https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/social-determi…