Sunday, May 21, 2006
Discussion paper on Reducing Health Disparities in Canada - Roles of the Health Sector
Reducing Health Disparities -Roles of the Health Sector Discussion Paper
Prepared by the Health Disparities Task Group of the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Advisory Committee on Population Health and Health Security, Canada
Available online [PDF file 43p.] at:
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ph-sp/disparities/pdf06/disparities_discussion_paper_e.pdf
Health disparities are avoidable and can be successfully addressed. This paper explores the role of the health sector in addressing health disparities in Canada by:
Presenting some facts of health disparities - how and why they occur and persist, the nature, extent and costs of health disparities in Canada and, where possible, comparisons between Canada and other countries;
Reviewing how Canadian and international thinking on health disparities has evolved and current Canadian and international strategies for reducing health disparities;
Suggesting policy directions and actions for the health sector to take to reduce health disparities, both within its sphere of direct control and through partnerships and promotion, knowledge development and exchange.
Health disparities are a term central to the discussion in this paper. Health disparities refer to differences in health status that occur among population groups defined by specific characteristics. For policy purposes, the most useful categorizations are those consistently associated with the largest variations in health status. The most prominent factors in Canada are socio-economic status (SES), Aboriginal identity, gender and geographic location. ¶ 9:41 p.m.
Prepared by the Health Disparities Task Group of the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Advisory Committee on Population Health and Health Security, Canada
Available online [PDF file 43p.] at:
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ph-sp/disparities/pdf06/disparities_discussion_paper_e.pdf
Health disparities are avoidable and can be successfully addressed. This paper explores the role of the health sector in addressing health disparities in Canada by:
Presenting some facts of health disparities - how and why they occur and persist, the nature, extent and costs of health disparities in Canada and, where possible, comparisons between Canada and other countries;
Reviewing how Canadian and international thinking on health disparities has evolved and current Canadian and international strategies for reducing health disparities;
Suggesting policy directions and actions for the health sector to take to reduce health disparities, both within its sphere of direct control and through partnerships and promotion, knowledge development and exchange.
Health disparities are a term central to the discussion in this paper. Health disparities refer to differences in health status that occur among population groups defined by specific characteristics. For policy purposes, the most useful categorizations are those consistently associated with the largest variations in health status. The most prominent factors in Canada are socio-economic status (SES), Aboriginal identity, gender and geographic location. ¶ 9:41 p.m.
