HIGHLIGHTS

• The concept of health equity is about equal opportunity to achieve good health irrespective of race, status, or ethnicity.
• Health equity is meant to end disparities regarding access to healthcare which happens due to financial reasons and sometimes political reasons.
• There are various strategies to promote health equity.
• Health equity offers many benefits.
• In regions with limited healthcare facilities, everybody can gain access to healthcare via telehealth.

Health equity refers to the idea that all people should have an equal opportunity to achieve good health, regardless of their race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or other social determinants of health. In other words, health equity means everyone should have access to the resources and opportunities they need to be healthy and live a full life.

Unfortunately, health equity is not a reality in many parts of the world. In many countries, people from certain racial or ethnic groups, or people living in poverty, experience worse health outcomes than others. For example, in the United States, African Americans and Hispanics are more likely to suffer from chronic ailments like diabetes and heart disease than whites. Similarly, impoverished people are more likely to suffer from health problems than those with higher incomes.

To address these disparities, many organizations and governments are working to promote health equity. This can involve a range of strategies, from increasing access to healthcare services to improving social and economic conditions that affect health.

Some of these strategies are as follows:

Addressing Social Determinants of Health: 

In the context of health, social determinants are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age. These conditions can significantly impact health outcomes. For example, people who live in neighborhoods with high levels of pollution may be more likely to experience respiratory problems. At the same time, those who lack access to healthy food options may be more likely to suffer from obesity and related health problems.

To address these issues, many organizations are working to improve social and economic conditions in communities. This can involve building affordable housing, improving public transportation, and providing access to healthy food options in low-income neighborhoods. By addressing these social determinants of health, we can help to promote health equity and ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to be healthy.

Increasing Access to Healthcare Services: 

Another important strategy for promoting health equity is to increase access to healthcare services. This can involve expanding insurance coverage, increasing the number of healthcare providers in underserved areas, and implementing programs to reduce healthcare costs for low-income individuals. By ensuring that everyone has access to quality healthcare, we can help to address health disparities and promote better health outcomes for all.

Benefits of Health Equity

Health equity aims to create an environment in which everyone has an equal opportunity to attain good health regardless of their social, economic, or demographic status. The benefits of health equity are numerous and extend to individuals, communities, and societies. They are as follows:

Improvement of overall health: 

Health equity improves the overall health outcomes of the population. When everyone has equal access to quality healthcare, preventative services, and health information, individuals are more likely to engage in healthy behaviors and receive early interventions and treatments for illnesses. This can reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes, leading to a more productive and healthy population.

Increase in Social and Economic Development: 

Health equity can promote social and economic development. Individuals with good health are more likely to participate in the workforce, contribute to economic growth, and experience better living conditions. This, in turn, can lead to a more stable and prosperous society.

Reduction in Healthcare Costs: 

Health equity can reduce healthcare costs. When individuals have access to preventative services and receive early interventions and treatments for illnesses, they are less likely to experience serious health conditions that require expensive medical interventions. This can reduce the burden on the healthcare system and reduce healthcare costs for individuals, employers, and governments.

Strengthening of Social Justice and Fairness: 

Health equity promotes social justice and fairness. Having access to good health, regardless of background or social status, promotes a more just and fair society. This can lead to greater social cohesion, along with more peaceful and harmonious society.

Telehealth can Increase Healthcare Access to Regions with Limited Healthcare Facilities

The benefits of health equity certainly make it a necessity. However, in regions with limited healthcare facilities, the only way to ensure that everybody has access to healthcare is to strengthen internet facilities and make telehealth available and accessible to people so that those who cannot go to the hospital can talk to doctors online via video call and get medical advice, along with information about which medicine to buy and where to buy from. For online diagnosis, people who cannot go to the hospital can help remote doctors by using BEGAL and Belloscope, which HelloDr offers.

BEGAL is an Electroencephalography (EEG) device for observing and recording brainwaves in the form of EEG signals as it oversees the electrical activity in the brain. Doctors and BEGAL users use the data recorded by BEGAL to determine if the user has any symptoms of any mental disorder, and if yes, then how mild or how severe. The conclusion is drawn based on the abnormality of brainwaves. Accordingly, the user can consult a doctor and plan therapy regarding what he/she requires. Click here to join the waiting list and order your BEGAL online.

Belloscope is a device for remote healthcare diagnosis. Useful in telemedicine, the Belloscope focuses on the functioning of the user's heart, lungs, ears, and skin to detect infections and skin problems. Recording sounds and images of organs suffering from some problem, Belloscope helps the user to share them with the doctor. Based on the data recorded by Belloscope and shared in digitized form, doctors diagnose a user's problem in real-time. If the user is healthy, then the doctor can confirm that after checking the data shared by Belloscope. And these diagnoses are accurate. Click here to purchase your Belloscope.