Healthcare inequity: bridging the gap for marginalized sectors, poor economies

May 25, 2023

Disparities in accessing healthcare and receiving sufficient medical treatment have existed throughout history. Despite the advancement of modern medicine and medical technologies, as well as emergence of new information about illnesses and medical conditions, major discrepancies depending on factors such as race, socioeconomic level, gender, and geographic location persisted.

Healthcare inequality remains a major issue today, with marginalized communities and vulnerable populations encountering disproportionate barriers to obtaining healthcare and suffering from poor health outcomes. Global efforts are being made to overcome this gap and promote greater healthcare fairness for all people, regardless of their background or circumstances.

Marginalized groups miss out on basic healthcare services

According to a recent Blood Cancer UK survey, marginalized groups such as those from Asian, Black, Mixed, or other ethnic backgrounds are more likely to learn they have a type of blood cancer from “a faceless source such as the internet”. The survey also found that certain age brackets, respondents with a degree-level education, and those with a higher income were more likely to be told they had a type of blood cancer.¹

The report “Raise the profile, reduce the harm” by Blood Cancer UK examines public attitudes of blood cancer and how its low profile can prevent many people from receiving critical care. The findings, which were released on World Blood Cancer Day (May 28), contain results from a survey of 2,571 people, including those with blood cancer, healthcare practitioners, and those who are more broadly affected.

Blood cancer, which includes lymphoma, leukemia, myeloma, and the diseases MPN and MDS, is the fifth most prevalent cause of cancer in the UK, according to the organization.

Meanwhile, it said that 6% of survey participants discovered they had blood cancer while taking part in its research.The likelihood of discovering a type of blood cancer through its survey doubled for those over 85 (8% vs 4% of 45-55s), those with a secondary level education (8% vs 4% undergraduate degree level), those with a below-average income (8% vs 4% above-average income), and those who identify as an ethnic minority (14% vs 6% who identify as white).²

Despite the fact that the majority of people affected by blood cancer (88% of 2,571 survey respondents) agreed that they should be told they have a type of blood cancer at diagnosis, Blood Cancer UK discovered that two out of every ten people from the identified groups have never been informed by a healthcare professional that they have a type of blood cancer. ³

Everyone has the right to make informed choices, especially when it comes to their health. According to Tanya Kumar, assistance Services Officer at Blood Cancer UK, getting a thorough diagnosis assists people to understand their treatment options while also understanding their rights and accessing personalized assistance. ⁴

The more we can raise awareness among marginalized groups, the more people will be aware of the services available to them, and we can help unlock that assistance for those in need, said Helen Rowntree, Chief Executive of Blood Cancer UK.⁵

Poverty and inequities

Health specialists have investigated what is causing these discrepancies. Health disparities, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), are “systematic differences in the health status of different population groups across income brackets, and these inequities have significant social and economic costs both to individuals and societies.” Education, employment status, income level, gender, and ethnicity are among social characteristics that may influence a person’s health. The most striking fact, however, is that the lower an individual’s socioeconomic status, the greater their chance of bad health.⁶

It appears to be disproportionate, yet it is what it is. According to the WHO report, persons who are economically or socially disadvantaged have poorer health than those who are better off.

The rising cost of food makes it difficult for people, particularly those in lower economic strata or living in low-income nations, to afford better nourishment. Economic constraints also limit people’s access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and suitable shelter.

High rates of illness, particularly infectious disease and malnutrition, are believed to be common in low-income countries, which are also more likely to fail in coping with surroundings rife with infectious agents and a lack of competent medical care.⁷

NCD prevalence in Southeast Asia

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, and diabetes are the top causes of death worldwide and are a growing global health concern. NCD mortality now outnumber all communicable disease deaths combined. According to the CDC, NCDs kill 41 million people each year, accounting for more than 7 out of every 10 deaths worldwide.⁸

A rising proportion of the burden of noncommunicable diseases falls disproportionately on the poor. High rates of NCDs in low- and middle-income nations foster poverty, impede economic development, and strain frail health systems, rendering these countries less resilient in the face of emergencies such as infectious disease outbreaks or natural catastrophes, CDC said.

However, addressing NCDs is critical because, according to the CDC, every dollar invested in proven NCD interventions in low- and middle-income countries will generate at least $7 in greater economic development or reduced health-care expenditures by 2030. ⁹

According to WHO, the South-East Asia (SEA) Region contains a number of countries that are not only impoverished but also bear a considerable amount of the global illness burden. Despite improvements in the health of poorer populations in all countries, the gap between the poor and the rest of the population is growing. ¹⁰

Eliminating access gaps to benefit society

The goal of healthcare policies is to strengthen healthcare systems. However, it has never been emphasized that correcting health and healthcare imbalances will benefit societies. Increasing efforts to eliminate health disparities across social groups strengthens healthcare systems and adds considerably to economic growth.

According to a McKinseyHealth Institute report, reducing health inequities will necessitate “a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach” that will include improving access to affordable and high-quality food, healthcare services and products, and other resources essential to good health, making them available to all; investing in healthcare innovations that will address the needs of the disadvantaged; and increasing efforts to engage underserved populations.¹¹

SOURCES:

https://bloodcancer.org.uk/
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
https://www.who.int/news-room/facts-in-pictures/detail/health-inequities-and-their-causes
Ibid
https://www.cdc.gov/globalhealth/healthprotection/ncd/global-ncd-overview.html
https://www.cdc.gov/globalhealth/healthprotection/resources/fact-sheets/global-ncd-fact-sheet.html#:~:text=Noncommunicable%20diseases%20(NCDs)%2C%20such,of%20death%20and%20disability%20worldwide.
https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/205241
https://www.mckinsey.com/mhi/focus-areas/equity-and-health

Tags: healthcare, illnesses, medical conditions, medical treatment, poor economies