The Crucial Role of Patient Advocacy in Achieving Health Equity Amidst Social Determinants of Health

In the complex healthcare landscape, the pursuit of health equity stands as a beacon of hope and a challenge that demands our collective action. For advocacy team leaders in pharmaceutical and biotech companies and patient communities, understanding and championing health equity is not just a moral imperative but a strategic necessity.

Understanding Health Equity

At its core, health equity is about ensuring that every individual has a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest level of health. It involves removing obstacles to health, such as poverty and discrimination, and their consequences, including powerlessness and lack of access to good jobs with fair pay, quality education and housing, safe environments, and healthcare. As Sandra Washington put it best, "It doesn't matter if you're in a poor neighborhood or if you are wealthy and living next to your physician. If you get a different level of care that leads to a negative outcome, that is health inequity."

The Role of Social Determinants of Health

Health equity is closely related to the social determinants of health; they go hand-in-hand. #Socialdeterminantsofhealth are the conditions prevalent in the surroundings where people are born, grow, learn, work, play, and age that can affect their health outcomes, functionality, and quality of life. For instance, a person's place of residence may have a greater impact on their health outcomes than their genetic makeup. In certain cities such as New Orleans and Chicago, life expectancy can vary by up to 30 years between neighborhoods located just a few miles apart due to differences in social determinants such as access to healthcare, quality of education, and socio-economic status.

Examples of Social Determinants of Health

Several key areas exemplify the impact of social determinants on health:

• Economic Stability: Poverty and employment status significantly influence one's ability to access healthcare services and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
• Education Access and Quality: Educational opportunities shape career prospects and income, impacting one’s ability to afford healthcare and healthy living conditions.
• Healthcare Access and Quality: Health insurance, access to healthcare providers, and health literacy are crucial for preventive healthcare and disease management.
• Neighborhood and Built Environment: The quality of housing, access to nutritious food, and exposure to environmental pollutants affect health outcomes.
• Social and Community Context: Social integration, support systems, and exposure to discrimination and violence play significant roles in mental and physical health.

The Imperative for Patient Advocacy

As leaders in patient advocacy, we have the unique opportunity to be the voice for those affected by these social determinants. Our role is to raise awareness and drive action within our organizations. We need to integrate health equity into the fabric of our strategic planning and operations. This means advocating for research and development considering diverse populations, ensuring access to innovative treatments across different socio-economic groups, and actively engaging in community partnerships to address these broader determinants.

Invitation to Engage

I am committed to understanding and addressing the challenges patients face concerning social determinants of health. I invite you to engage with me and see how we can work with patient advocates, professional societies, and community-based organizations to promote health equity. Together, we can build a healthcare ecosystem that treats diseases and addresses the underlying social factors that define health outcomes.