Everyone deserves a fair opportunity to live a healthy life. Yet people’s health and access to healthcare can be shaped by factors such as income, education, disability, cultural background, language, and where they live.

Health equity means addressing unfair and avoidable differences in health and healthcare. This includes recognizing the barriers that some individuals and communities face and finding ways to reduce them.

While healthcare providers play an important role, health equity is a shared responsibility. Employers, colleagues, community organizations, and individuals can all contribute to making health information, services, and support more accessible.

Supporting Health Equity in Everyday Life and at Work

1. Understand that health is influenced by more than personal choices

A person’s health can be affected by their income, housing, education, working conditions, access to transportation, and availability of healthcare services. These factors are often called social determinants of health.

For example, someone living in a rural community may have difficulty accessing specialists, while someone working multiple jobs may struggle to find time for medical appointments.

Recognizing these differences can help you better understand why people face different health challenges, even when they make similar lifestyle choices.

2. Avoid making assumptions about people’s health

Not all health conditions or challenges are visible. A colleague may be managing a chronic illness, caring for a family member, or dealing with barriers to treatment that others know nothing about.

Avoid judging someone’s health based on their appearance, age, background, or lifestyle. Comments about a person’s weight, eating habits, physical abilities, or medical choices can be intrusive, even when well-intentioned.

Respect people’s privacy and let them decide what they’re comfortable sharing.

3. Be considerate of different health needs

People may need different forms of support to manage their health or participate fully in everyday activities.

For example, a colleague may need regular breaks, someone with a disability may require an accessible meeting space, or a person managing a medical condition may have specific dietary needs.

You don’t need to know someone’s medical history to be considerate. Ask about their needs when appropriate, respect reasonable requests, and avoid questioning arrangements that help them participate.

4. Make health information easier to understand and access

Health information can be confusing, especially when it includes unfamiliar medical terms or is available only in certain languages or formats.

When sharing health-related information with colleagues, friends, or family, use clear language and reliable sources. Avoid passing along unverified medical claims or assuming that everyone has the same level of health knowledge.

You can also help others find accessible resources, such as information in their preferred language or formats that accommodate different disabilities.

5. Speak up when you notice barriers

Sometimes, everyday practices unintentionally exclude people with different health needs. For example, a workplace wellness activity may be inaccessible to someone with limited mobility, or a group event may offer no suitable food options for people with certain medical conditions.

When you notice a barrier, suggest a practical adjustment or raise the concern through the appropriate channels. You can also ask people what would make an activity more accessible rather than assuming you know what they need.

Small changes can help more people participate comfortably and equally.

Supporting Health Equity in Healthcare

Healthcare professionals can help reduce barriers to care by understanding the different circumstances, experiences, and needs of their patients.

1. Recognize barriers to accessing care

Transportation, income, language, disability, and access to health information can affect when patients seek treatment and whether they can follow care recommendations. For example, a patient who misses appointments may be experiencing financial or transportation difficulties rather than a lack of interest in their health.

Ask patients about challenges that may affect their care and help connect them with available resources and support services.

2. Respect cultural and religious differences

Cultural backgrounds and religious beliefs can influence how patients understand illness, approach treatment, and make healthcare decisions. Some patients may have dietary restrictions, observe religious fasting, prefer a healthcare provider of a particular gender, or wish to involve family members in medical discussions.

Ask about individual needs and preferences rather than making assumptions based on someone’s background. Where possible, accommodate these preferences while maintaining safe and appropriate care.

3. Communicate clearly and accessibly

Clear communication helps patients understand their conditions, treatment options, and care instructions. Use plain language, avoid unnecessary medical terminology, and provide qualified medical interpreters when needed. Do not rely on children or untrained family members to interpret medical information.

Consider accessibility needs as well, including sign language interpretation, alternative formats for written information, or additional time for communication. One useful approach is the teach-back method, which involves asking patients to explain instructions in their own words to confirm their understanding.

4. Recognize and address bias

Assumptions about a patient’s age, race, gender, disability, weight, or socioeconomic background can influence how healthcare professionals interpret symptoms and concerns. For example, dismissing someone’s symptoms because they appear young and healthy or assuming an older patient cannot understand treatment options may affect the quality of care they receive.

Listen to patients without making premature judgments, take their concerns seriously, and base clinical decisions on individual assessments and evidence.

5. Involve patients in their care decisions

Patients may have different priorities, concerns, and levels of comfort with medical treatments. Explain treatment options clearly, discuss potential benefits and risks, and encourage questions. Ask whether cultural, personal, financial, or practical considerations may affect their decisions.

Support patients in making informed choices and respect their preferences about involving family members or caregivers.

6. Improve accessibility across healthcare services

Healthcare organizations can review their services to identify barriers that may affect different patient populations. Consider whether appointment systems, facilities, educational materials, and communication channels are accessible. Provide language assistance, make information available in appropriate formats, and clearly communicate available support services.

Collect patient feedback and use it to identify opportunities to improve access and care experiences.

Making Health Equity Part of Everyday Practice

Health equity affects people in different ways, from the resources available in their communities to the care they receive when they visit a healthcare provider.

Whether you’re supporting a colleague, developing workplace policies, sharing health information, or providing patient care, small actions can help reduce barriers and make health-related services and support more accessible.