A new report finds that racial and ethnic inequities in healthcare continue to plague every U.S. state, despite increased awareness and legislation aimed at improving health outcomes for minorities over the past two decades.
The 300-page document from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine details how structural racism and environmental factors contribute to worse health outcomes for people of color, including higher rates of maternal and infant mortality, lower life expectancy, and increased chronic disease.
“Inequities are baked into our healthcare system, and if we address them, everyone benefits,” said Georges Benjamin, MD, executive director of the American Public Health Association and co-chair of the report committee.
The report recommends diversifying the healthcare workforce, adjusting payment systems, and strengthening patient-provider relationships to help bridge racial gaps. It also calls for better coordination of equity plans at the federal level and increased funding for proven programs.
Lisa Cooper, MD, of Johns Hopkins, noted the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted these disparities: “We’re failing everybody in our healthcare system. It’s just that some groups of people are suffering even more.”
Benjamin stressed the urgency of implementing changes, warning that without action, people will continue to “die unnecessarily, in an unjust way.”
The report comes 21 years after the organization’s first study on the topic, underscoring the persistent nature of healthcare inequities despite increased focus on the issue.
See “Healthcare Needs to Diversify Workforce to Get Rid of Racial Inequalities” (June 26. 2024)
