Governments at all levels have taken notice of the disproportionate impact of COVID on minority and rural communities. This proposal establishes the need for a permanent director for health equity in each state. | Perspective
Editor’s Note : This article is being showcased in a special collection about equity in health care that was made possible by the support of Takeda Pharmaceuticals. The article was published independently and without sponsorship.
While these efforts may help combat disparities in COVID outcomes, we must recognize that the root causes of these disparities existed for generations before the pandemic and will persist for generations afterward if health equity is not prioritized. COVID had a disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations because it exacerbated preexisting inequities in our society.
Given that such a broad range of issues—many unrelated to health care itself—underlie health inequities, the directors for health equity would not only work within the health department, as is often the case with such roles today, but would collaborate with leaders across government, including the departments of education, housing and justice.
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