It is easy to understand why equity and equality can be confused. Although health equality and health equity both aim to improve access to healthcare and health outcomes, they are different. The goal of health equity is to provide people with support based on their specific needs. It recognizes that people start from different circumstances. Equity in public health works to remove barriers such as poverty, discrimination, and access to care to ensure that everyone has a fair chance to be healthy.

Equality is different. Health equality means giving everyone the exact same tools or health resources regardless of need. On the surface, that sounds like a good thing. However, it assumes that everyone starts at the same place and faces the same challenges. Treating everyone the same way does not account for the barriers some people face. For example, establishing a single medical clinic in a town does not consider transportation as a barrier for many.

In public health, health equity creates fairness. Equity means that your background does not decide your health outcomes. The result is a level playing field and better health for all.