Impact of digital health on health inequities for racialized communities in Ontario
The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a rapid shift towards digital health solutions to address healthcare challenges, offering virtual access to a range of services including contact tracing, public health updates, virtual care, mental health support, and vaccine booking. While digital technologies helped mitigate virus spread, their unintended impact on health equity, particularly for marginalized racialized low-income communities, emerged as a parallel concern. This research investigates the influence of digital health adoption on pre-existing inequities among racialized Ontarians, utilizing a qualitative literature review. The study examines healthcare structures, socio- economic factors, and assesses the 2019 Digital First for Health Strategy’s impact on health equity. COVID-19 policies and digital tools are analyzed for their effect on racialized populations, revealing existing gaps. Despite public funding, Ontario’s healthcare system remains unequal, disproportionately affecting racialized communities during the pandemic due to discriminatory policies and inaccessible digital solutions. Pre-pandemic analysis confirms long-standing health inequities, with socio-economic factors driving 50% of health outcomes. Low income’s domino effect worsens health outcomes for vulnerable individuals, including hindrances to accessing virtual care. Addressing this, the study advocates for evidence-based policies, among other recommendations that are rooted in equity.
2024 Acting for Equity Webinar Series:
- January 10: Strategic EDI Blueprint: Maximizing Impact in the Digital Health Sector
- January 17: Impact of digital health on health inequities for racialized communities in Ontario
- January 24: Establishing pan-Canadian Gender, Sex and Sexual Orientation Standards
- January 31: Access to Digital Health: Equity by the numbers
