Equity, poverty and health for all

摘要

Health for All is not just a slogan but a way of thinking about improving health for the whole population. At its heart is equity, which is about fairness and justice. It should be distinguished from the related concept of equality. The principles of distributive justice may be incompatible and conflicting; which one is used depends on the values selected. Variations in health and health care exist; to tackle this effectively requires further research. A most important issue, however, is reaching a consensus of the values to be used. Tackling poverty is an essential component of improving the population's health. "If put in sufficiently general terms, the essence of the good society can be easily stated. It is that every member, regardless of gender, race or ethnic origin, should have access to a rewarding life."