The National Health Service was founded on the principle of equity of access to health services. This essay discusses what equity is and what is necessary to achieve it.
Clarifying the concept of equity is a challenge, but Dr Barbara Starfield asks important questions about how to define fairness and how to remedy inequalities.
Although there are a myriad of influences on the distribution of health in populations, this essay focuses solely on the improvement in equity in health through access to health services.
Suggested citation
Starfield B (2004) Contributions of evidence to the struggle towards equity. Research report. Nuffield Trust.