Healthcare Industry in the United States, and The Question of Structural Inequality.

As a healthcare leader, one may view health inequality as still on the rise in the labor market. Likewise, researchers may need to open-up critical conversations about gender mentality. Gender inequality can be referred to as “structural inequality.” This is because the mentality of inequality has built on the system for a long period of time. Therefore, it is vital to ensure women’s equality in the labor market. Underprivileged populations are also affected, in this focus. Structural inequality is a system of privilege created by institutions within an economy. These institutions include the law, business practices, healthcare policies, and government policies. It is apparent that the effects of social and economic inequality on health of a society are profound. In a large, overpopulated country like U.S.A, especially India and China with its complex social architecture and economic extremes, the effect on health system is multi-fold. Unequal distribution of resources is an image of this inequality and adversely affects the health of under-privileged population. The socially under-privileged are incompetent to access the healthcare due to geographical, social, economic or gender related distances. Growing but unregulated private healthcare sector makes the gap between rich and poor more apparent. Social and economic inequality is detrimental to the health of any society. Especially when the society is diverse, multicultural, overpopulated and undergoing rapid but unequal economic growth. Increasing the racial and ethnic diversity of the health care workforce is essential for the adequate provision of culturally competent care to our nation’s growing minority societies. A diverse health care workforce will help to expand health care access for the underserved, improve research in deserted areas of societal need, and enrich the tarn of managers and policymakers to meet the needs of a diverse public.