Health equity is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the fair opportunity for everyone to attain their full health potential regardless of demographic, social, economic or geographic strata. It aligns with the guiding principle of “leaving no one behind”, central to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by the United Nations (UN) in 2015. To achieve better health for all, in addition to interventions which address social and economic determinants of health, the Agenda calls for universal health coverage (UHC) to facilitate access to quality healthcare without financial hardship, so that households can be protected against catastrophic health payments and impoverishment.
