Turning Health Equity from Ideal to Action
October 23, 2025
Although “health equity” is often talked about as if it’s a single concept, the types of inequities are as vast and varied as each patient’s unique story. Some may need to wait a long time to get access to a medication, while others may not be able to access a drug at all. And some patients – especially those with rare diseases – may need to fight to become one of the first people in Canada to receive a medication.
It's true that achieving system-wide alignment on health equity will take some time, not to mention political will. Until then, we find hope in the individuals, organizations, and initiatives that are making a difference to patients and patient communities. So, for our annual Changemakers issue, we’re highlighting people and projects that are taking ownership of a piece of the health equity puzzle and trying to make the Canadian healthcare system a fairer and more supportive place for patients and those who care for them.
“Equity still floats. Everyone talks about equity. No one owns it.”1
Suchandra Banerjee, Canadian healthcare communication, patient engagement and advocacy specialist
Our health equity changemakers include:
1. Breast Cancer Canada and its efforts to make more effective use of real-world evidence to gain a better understanding of real-life patient experiences and needs in breast cancer with PROgress Tracker.
2. Novartis Canada and their support for diverse health equity initiatives in Canada, including an innovative program through Foundations for Social Change to improve living conditions and healthcare access for unhoused people.
3. Sossy Meguerdij and her mission to organize and support the Drug Access Navigator role through Association québécoise des coordonnateurs d’accès aux médicaments d’oncologie (AQCAMO).
4. Gail Ouellette and how the Regroupement québécois des maladies orphelines (RQMO) is raising awareness of rare diseases and driving development and implementation of a provincial action plan.
5. The GI Society and how they’re exposing provincial gaps in drug coverage and advocating for more uniform and equitable access.