Canada’s universal health care system is often understood as a central pillar of a national commitment to social equity and social justice. Such an understanding makes it difficult to raise the issue of racial inequalities within the context of the Canadian health care system. Indeed, far too little research has been conducted in Canada on racial inequality in heath and heath care.
Colour Coded Health Care, a new literature review by Sheryl Nestel, offers a survey of relevant academic and community-based research on racial disparities in the health of Canadians appearing between 1990-2010. In addition to surveying the research on mortality and morbidity by racialized groups in Canada, it surveys the evidence of bias, discrimination and stereotyping in health care delivery.