Health Equity

Health Literacy and Human Rights

The Conference on Health Literacy and Human Rights begins in Rome tomorrow on December 5, 2024. The report Health literacy is a human rights concern (Sorensen K, 2024) is one of the reference materials.  The author defines health literacy as more than the ability to read and comprehend health information; it includes a broader set of competencies that allow individuals to access, understand, appraise, and apply health information in ways that promote and maintain good health (World Health Organization, 2021).

The author makes the argument for health literacy as a human rights concern by applying a human rights framework. This starts with a quote from the Constitution of the World Health Organization. “The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition (WHO, 1948).”  The author makes a further connection that if health is a fundamental right of every human being, then their ability to access health information and make informed decisions (i.e. health literacy) is a human rights concern.

United States

Health equity has been a major issue in the U.S for decades.  With different names and definitions, it has taken time for the phrase, health equity, to become mainstream. The COVID-19 pandemic helped to push it even further to the top as a priority.

Health equity is the state in which everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest level of health (Center for Disease Control). Addressing health literacy is a key component in achieving health equity and is included as one of the Healthy People 2030 overarching goals.: “Eliminate health disparities, achieve health equity, and attain health literacy to improve the health and well-being of all.” (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion: Healthy People 2030)

Attaining Health Equity in the U.S.

The Healthy People 2030 goal to achieve health equity and attain health literacy is commendable. However, there were 26 million people uninsured in the U.S. in 2023 (U.S. Census Bureau Report 2024), which makes this goal a little like putting the cart before the horse.  Of those insured, 65.4 percent had private health insurance and 34.6 percent had public. This tiered structure of insurance coverage with the uninsured at the bottom, private insurance at the top, and Medicaid and Medicare in between results in inequitable access and outcomes.  Additionally, the convoluted system of care and benefits makes health literacy challenging for even the most highly educated in our society. To attain health equity in the U.S., we must first acknowledge health as a fundamental right. And if health is a fundamental right, so is health insurance.