Large health inequities remain in the Americas

The Americas is the region where the largest socioeconomic disparities are found, and it also presents significant health inequities between countries and within countries among minority and excluded population groups. These health inequities are reflected in differences in life expectancy; health at the start of life and over the life course; the burden of infectious as well as noncommunicable diseases; health behaviors such as smoking, alcohol, and drug use; and accidents, violence, and conflict.

Low-income groups, informal workers, less-educated populations, indigenous peoples, people of African descent, and other groups in situations of vulnerability in the Americas are at an enormous disadvantage and face considerable health inequities, reflected in higher rates of both communicable and noncommunicable diseases and maternal and infant mortality. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has committed to work toward reducing health inequities, as reflected in its Policy on Ethnicity and Health, the Strategy and Plan of Action on Health Promotion within the context of the Sustainable Development Goals 2019–2030, and the Policy for Recovering Progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals with Equity through Action on the Social Determinants of Health and Intersectoral Work.

Health equity is central to PAHO’s mission

Health equity, where there is an opportunity for everyone to obtain the highest level of health available, is enshrined in PAHO’s goal to promote fairness and eliminate disparities that affect access to health. PAHO’s Strategic Plan 2020–2025 envisions “equity at the heart of health” as its central theme, meaning both promoting the rights of groups living in conditions of vulnerability and eliminating health inequities between groups.

Action is needed on social determinants of health

A person’s level of education, social inclusion, income, occupation, and wealth all correlate with health. Poverty is considered the largest determinant of health, which generally improves with a higher socioeconomic status. However, poverty alone does not necessarily dictate health outcomes. Other social determinants play a role such as income level, social class, occupation, level of education, ethnicity, gender identity, and sexual orientation. PAHO recognizes that social determinants of health policies and interventions to reduce inequity are essential to reach universal access to health and universal health coverage. To this end, PAHO has introduced two landmark policies: the Policy for Recovering Progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals with Equity through Action on the Social Determinants of Health and Intersectoral Work (2022), and the Policy for Strengthening Equity‑Oriented Health Sector Action on Climate Change and Health (2024). PAHO’s Director established a new Department of Social and Environmental Determinants for Health Equity in 2023.