Equity and Health

Identifying, measuring, and addressing health inequities across countries, cultures, and communities

According to the World Health Organization, health equity is defined as the absence of unfair and avoidable or remediable differences in health among population groups.1 Today, many individuals and communities do not have this opportunity because of bias and systemic barriers with regards to gender, race, education, socioeconomic status, geographical location, disability status and other structural factors.

Addressing inequities in health and healthcare benefits all of society. Reducing gaps in access and quality of care for women, for example, improves health outcomes for infants, as well. Reducing health inequity across social groups strengthens healthcare systems and contributes to economic growth2 and will require a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach.

The McKinsey Health Institute (MHI) believes that investing in health equity involves focused and targeted efforts on a variety of topics, including Women's Health and Youth Health, and closing the disability health-data gap, which are essential to building healthier societies. We work with a global ecosystem to catalyze change by generating actionable insights, convening partners across sectors, and advancing scalable solutions.

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Topics to explore

In collaboration with relevant stakeholders, the McKinsey Health Institute (MHI) is interested in exploring long-term questions such as:
Mobilizing investment to close the women’s health gap by building the business case for women’s health and catalyzing funding models that scale innovation and strengthen health systems.
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Reducing racial disparities in maternal and infant health could unlock $25 billion in economic value for the US by closing preventable health gaps
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Promoting youth mental health and emotional well-being, helping improve mental health among youth through better access, trauma prevention, and resilience.
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Advancing Latino economic mobility, closing gaps that constrain the economic contribution of the fastest-growing segment of the US workforce.
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Helping advance disability-inclusive health data collection and use to identify inequities, inform targeted interventions, and improve health outcomes for people with disabilities.
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Designing more inclusive care pathways by identifying and addressing the barriers people with disabilities face across prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care.
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Featured initiative

MHI Focus Area - Women’s Health

Women’s Health

Closing the women’s health gap to improve women’s quality of life and drive positive impact throughout society.
A group of youths smiling, laughing as they walk shoulder to shoulder

Child and Youth Health

Improving child and youth health globally by translating insights into action

Featured Collaborations

The Missing Billion Initiative
We are collaborating with the Missing Billion Initiative, a global initiative aiming to transform health systems for better access and outcomes for 1.3 billion people with disabilities. Our partnership is anchored on developing and disseminating novel insights to demonstrate the data, access, and outcome gaps for people with disabilities; mobilizing change at global and country levels among health system leaders, implementing organizations, and funders; and developing and implementing solutions across countries to demonstrate best-practices in healthcare inclusivity.
Learn more about The Missing Billion Initiative
EQBMED
Through our Action 9 commitment to advance racial equity, McKinsey is supporting the launch of the Equitable Breakthroughs in Medicine Development (EQBMED) program. The EQBMED program aims to develop a patient-centric, scalable model to achieve equity in clinical research for Black, Hispanic, and Latino populations through innovative and sustainable partnerships across patients, communities, clinical trial sites and sponsors of biopharmaceutical research.
Learn more about EQBMED and MHI
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

We worked closely with the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center to help develop and deliver a free, web-based, interactive digital curriculum to upskill educators in identifying and supporting youth exposed to traumatic stress. Initial pilots have shown success, and the curriculum is being scaled in the United States with potential opportunities to develop training for other global contexts as well.

Learn more about Cincinnati Children's Hospital and MHI
American Heart Association logo
MHI partnered with the American Heart Association (AHA) to develop a report examining the state of women’s heart health in the US. Drawing on MHI research conducted in collaboration with the World Economic Forum and AHA’s clinical expertise, the publication explores the landscape of cardiovascular health among women, identifies key gaps in care and outcomes, and highlights opportunities to drive better health and economic outcomes.
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Featured Impact

Platform
Strong Resilient Youth training
This free training equips them with the knowledge and strength-based skills to support children and youth who have experienced trauma.
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Platform
Women’s Health Impact Tracking Platform
The Women's Health Impact Tracking (WHIT) platform is a first-of-its-kind global tool developed by the World Economic Forum, in collaboration with the McKinsey Health Institute, to measure progress toward closing the women’s health gap.
Explore the platform
Report - McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility
Closing the Black maternal-health gap: Healthier lives, stronger economies
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Black American women face disproportionately high rates of maternal mortality and morbidity. Better research and care can transform health outcomes and boost the economy by $25 billion.
Executive Briefing - McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility
Latino economic mobility: Insights from five years of research
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This compendium brings together five years of McKinsey research on how Latinos are reshaping America’s economic future and why expanding opportunity for this dynamic community is essential to broader growth.

Featured Insights

Smiling portrait of Joy Rhoden, senior vice president of Health Outcomes and Care Transformation at the American Hospital Association
Interview - McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility
Solutions for the Black maternal-health crisis
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Joy Rhoden of the American Hospital Association discusses how data, community partnerships, expanded care teams, and a focus on addressing health disparities are essential to improving maternal health outcomes.
Father giving children candy on steps outside house
Executive Briefing - McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility
Latino economic mobility: Insights from five years of research
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This compendium brings together five years of McKinsey research on how Latinos are reshaping America’s economic future and why expanding opportunity for this dynamic community is essential to broader growth.
CARE for women: Investing in care delivery to improve women’s lives and livelihoods
Interactive - McKinsey Health Institute
CARE for women: Investing in care delivery to improve women’s lives and livelihoods
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Care delivery failures account for 34 percent of the women’s health gap. Earlier preventive care could avert tens of thousands of adverse events and generate three- to sixfold returns through lower medical costs.
Two people hiking along a narrow mountain trail, using trekking poles as they walk through a grassy, sloping landscape. One of them is pointing toward the distant peaks under a clear blue sky, suggesting they’re discussing the route or admiring the view.
Interactive - McKinsey Health Institute
The health of nations: The return to better health, by country
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Explore how improving population health could deliver meaningful gains in healthy life and economic performance across countries.
Two hikers stand on a rocky mountain peak, wearing backpacks and looking out over a vast, scenic landscape. The expansive view and soft light convey a sense of adventure, achievement, and connection with nature.
Report - McKinsey Health Institute
The health of nations: Stronger health, stronger economies
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Poor health imposes a heavy human and economic toll. Scaling proven interventions could add nine healthy years to life and deliver $12.5 trillion in global economic gains by 2050.
A stylized profile of a human head depicted in blue hues, with an illuminated network of lines and nodes symbolizing neural activity within the brain.
Report - McKinsey Health Institute
The human advantage: Stronger brains in the age of AI
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The rise of artificial intelligence highlights how investment in “brain capital” (brain health and brain skills) can boost resilience, productivity, and growth.
As the sun sets behind the Vancouver skyline, a woman paddles her kayak on a vast body of water. The vibrant sunset sky paints the horizon with shades of pink and purple, casting a mirror-like reflection on the water.
Article - McKinsey Health Institute
Closing the women’s health gap: Canada’s $37 billion opportunity
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Closing the women’s health gap in Canada could result in seven more healthy days of life per year for every Canadian woman—and potentially boost the country’s economy by $37 billion annually by 2040.
A Black mother with tightly curled ringlets holds her baby on her shoulder. The baby gazes at the viewer inquisitively as the mother looks at him thoughtfully.
Report - McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility
Closing the Black maternal-health gap: Healthier lives, stronger economies
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Black American women face disproportionately high rates of maternal mortality and morbidity. Better research and care can transform health outcomes and boost the economy by $25 billion.
As the sun rises behind them, four Indian women dressed in traditional attire stroll along the crest of a desert dune, casting their figures in silhouette.
Report - McKinsey Health Institute
Blueprint to close the women’s health gap: How to improve lives and economies for all
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Women experience substantial health inequities and poor health outcomes worldwide, and the global economy suffers as a result.
Asian chinese female doctor having discussion with her handicapped amputee leg patient at reception counter of hospital
Article - McKinsey Health Institute
Advancing inclusive care pathways for people with disabilities
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Across disease types, patients with disabilities experience inequities all along the care pathway—with consequently worse outcomes. Inclusive pathway designs and targeted interventions could help.
Portrait of a smiling Dimitri Christakis in a suit jacket and button down shirt against a blurred background of trees.
Interview - McKinsey Health Institute
Special Olympics’ health chief on championing inclusive care
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Chief health officer Dimitri Christakis emphasizes a framework promoting health equity for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Photo illustration of a woman's silhouette enhanced by clouds
Report - McKinsey Health Institute
The state of US women’s heart health: A path to improved health and financial outcomes
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Closing the cardiovascular-disease gap between men and women could help women regain 1.6 million years of life lost because of poor health and early death, and boost the US economy by $28 billion annually by 2040.
A collection of images of a diverse group of women of all ages and ethnicities, engaged in a variety of activities and professions.
Interactive - McKinsey Health Institute
Bridging the women’s health gap: A country-level exploration
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In this McKinsey Health Institute interactive analysis, we explore the latest data on the impact of women’s health issues around the world.
Illustration featuring a silhouette of a woman's head with a sunrise and cloud multiple exposure background.
Report - McKinsey Health Institute
Closing the women’s health gap: A $1 trillion opportunity to improve lives and economies
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Investments addressing the women’s health gap could add years to life and life to years—and potentially boost the global economy by $1 trillion annually by 2040.
Portrait of Raj Panjabi with an easy smile and a blue suit.
Interview - McKinsey Health Institute
Pandemic lessons learned: ‘We need to be more equitable, effective, and efficient’
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Former White House official Raj Panjabi shares his insights on pandemic prevention and preparedness, and the critical role public and private sectors can play in a global health emergency response.
A healthcare professional in mask looking affectionately at a child who is gesturing with his hands.
Report
The missing billion: Lack of disability data impedes healthcare equity
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Addressing the absence of health data on people with disabilities is the essential first step health systems and policy makers can take to reduce care inequity and improve outcomes for this population.
Portrait of AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins.
Interview - McKinsey Health Institute
‘Older workers are good for business’: AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins
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The head of a renowned organization that advocates for older adults makes the business case for a healthy, happy intergenerational workforce.
Headshot of Jeanette Betancourt
Interview - McKinsey Health Institute
Young children are experiencing trauma: How Sesame Street wants to help
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Sesame Workshop’s Jeanette Betancourt explains what the show and the organization behind it are doing to address trauma and emotional well-being for young children.
Senior father and adult son having a good time on beach at sunset
Article - McKinsey Health Institute
Living longer in better health: Six shifts needed for healthy aging
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As many individuals live well past retirement age, stakeholders are examining how interventions, data, and innovation can transform aging.
Image of an interactive with bar charts showing key outcomes related to a number of workplace factors
Interactive - McKinsey Health Institute
Moving the needle on burnout: What does the data say?
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The interactive illustrates the opportunity for employers to address key workplace factors (toxic workplace behavior, inclusivity, supportive growth environment, and sustainable work) and the potential impact on key outcomes (work engagement, job satisfaction, burnout symptoms, and intent to leave).
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1. For more information, see “Health equity,” World Health Organization, 2022
2. “Health at a Glance 2017: OECD indicators,” OECDiLibrary, OECD 2017

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