Achieving health equity means everyone has the opportunity to reach their full health potential. They are not disadvantaged because of their race, ethnicity, religion, gender, age, socioeconomic status or other socially determined circumstance.
Individuals who have been deprived of the social determinants linked to better health are disadvantaged and face worse health outcomes than those who are able to access certain resources.
Research compiled by the Canadian Medical Association found 85 per cent of health outcomes are determined by our social, economic and physical environments, and by the actions of the healthcare system.