History of Health equity in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 16, 2025

Health equity stems from disparities in social determinants of health like wealth, power, and prestige. Those deprived of these face health inequities and poorer outcomes. Achieving health equity isn't about equal resource distribution (equality); it requires allocating resources based on individual needs to address existing disadvantages and ensure everyone has a fair chance at optimal health.

1973: Homosexuality removed from the DSM

In 1973, homosexuality was removed from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

1980: The Black Report produced in UK highlighting inequalities

In 1980, the Black Report was produced in the UK to highlight inequalities.

1995: Survey notes limited access to translators in European healthcare

In 1995, a survey of five European countries (Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, Italy, and France) noted that only Sweden provided access to translators for 100% of those who needed it, while the other countries lacked this service, potentially compromising healthcare to non-native populations.

1996: Study reveals race-based health inequity in Australia

In 1996, a study of race-based health inequity in Australia revealed that Aborigines experienced higher rates of mortality than non-Aborigine populations, with 10 times greater mortality in the 30–40 age range, 2.5 times greater infant mortality rate, and 3 times greater age standardized mortality rate.

2000: Study suggests doctors may ascribe negative racial stereotypes to minority patients

A March, 2000 study from Social Science & Medicine suggests that doctors may be more likely to ascribe negative racial stereotypes to their minority patients, regardless of education, income, and personality characteristics.

2000: WHO publishes survey on child mortality and ethnic disparities across 11 African nations

In 2000, the WHO published a survey of child mortality of major ethnic groups across 11 African nations (Central African Republic, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Namibia, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda, and Zambia). The study described the presence of significant ethnic parities in the child mortality rates among children younger than 5 years old, as well as in education and vaccine use.

2002: Race as a determinant in quality of care

In 2002, a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association identified race as a significant determinant in the level of quality of care, with Black people receiving lower quality care than their white counterparts.

2005: Study reveals higher death rates for African Americans from heart disease and breast cancer

In 2005, a study by the Office of Minority Health, a U.S. Department of Health, revealed that African American men were 30% more likely to die from heart disease and African American women were 34% more likely to die from breast cancer than their white counterparts.

2007: Census Bureau reports income disparity between African American and White families

In 2007, the Census Bureau reported that African American families made an average of $33,916, while their white counterparts made an average of $54,920, highlighting socioeconomic disparities.

2009: National Healthcare Disparities Report highlights preventive service disparities

According to the 2009 National Healthcare Disparities Report, uninsured Americans are less likely to receive preventive services in health care. It also showed that minorities are not regularly screened for colon cancer.

February 2010: Fair Society, Healthy Lives report published in the UK

On 11 February 2010, Sir Michael Marmot published the Fair Society, Healthy Lives report in the UK, illustrating a "social gradient in health" where the poorest have a shorter life expectancy and are more likely to have a disability.

2010: Institute of Medicine study on racial and ethnic disparities in health

In 2010, a study on racial and ethnic disparities in health by the Institute of Medicine showed that these disparities cannot solely be accounted for in terms of certain demographic characteristics like insurance status, household income, education, age, geographic location and quality of living conditions.

2012: Transgender status removed from the DSM

In 2012, transgender status was removed from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

2012: World Development Report notes greater mortality rates for women in developing nations.

The 2012 World Development Report (WDR) noted that women in developing nations experience greater mortality rates than men in developing nations.

2013: "Gender identity disorder" replaced with "gender dysphoria" in the DSM-5

In 2013, the DSM-5 replaced "gender identity disorder" with "gender dysphoria", reflecting that simply identifying as transgender is not itself pathological.

2017: Doctor Shortage in Rural Counties

In 2017, almost 10% of rural counties in the United States had no doctors, according to the National Rural Health Association, highlighting disparities in healthcare access.

June 2018: Launch of Joint Action Health Equity in Europe

In June 2018, the European Commission launched the Joint Action Health Equity in Europe. This initiative involves forty-nine participants from 25 European Union Member States collaborating to address health inequalities and the social determinants of health throughout Europe, aiming for greater health equity and reduced disparities in tackling health inequalities.

2019: Federal government identifies rural America as "medically underserved"

In 2019, the federal government identified nearly 80% of rural America as "medically underserved" due to a lack of skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers, psychiatric units, and intensive care units.

February 5, 2021: WHO head notes global inequity in access to COVID-19 vaccines

On February 5, 2021, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, noted that almost 130 countries had not yet given a single dose of COVID-19 vaccines, highlighting the global inequity in vaccine access.

April 2021: WHO reports disparity in COVID-19 vaccine distribution

In early April 2021, the WHO reported that 87% of existing COVID-19 vaccines had been distributed to the wealthiest countries, while only 0.2% had been distributed to the poorest countries, resulting in unequal vaccination rates.

December 2023: FDA Approves Gene Therapy for Sickle Cell Disease

In December 2023, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved two gene therapy treatments utilizing CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology to treat sickle cell disease. This approval is expected to significantly improve the lives of millions, particularly people of color who are at higher risk for the condition.

2023: Scoping review highlights lack of informative analysis of race/ethnicity as variables in health studies.

In 2023, a scoping review of the literature found that in studies involving multiracial or multiethnic populations, the incorporation of race or ethnicity variables lacked thoughtful conceptualization and informative analysis concerning their role as indicators of exposure to racialized social disadvantage.

2023: G20 opens 100-bed facility in India under Affordable Healthcare Model Hospital initiative

In 2023, the G20 under its Affordable Healthcare Model Hospital initiative, with the Government of Andhra Pradesh, India, opened a 100-bed facility in Srikakulam, drawing support from the Aarogyasri scheme.

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