Health Inequity Is Major Global Challenge

Health inequity is a major global challenge. The average life expectancy at birth in high-income countries is 78 years, while in low-income countries, it only reaches 64. In the United States, the gap in life expectancy between White and Black populations is nearly 6 years. The most pervasive health disparities are rooted in three key causes - bias and discrimination within societies, differences in the social, economic and environmental drivers of health and structural health system issues, such as access to and quality of care. Health inequities are also extremely costly. In Europe, health inequities cost an estimated 1.4% of the European Union’s annual GDP. In the United States, health inequities cost at least $320 billion annually. Watch the video to learn more about the state of health inequities the world over.