Race-based data via health cards could address health inequities, say experts

All Canadian jurisdictions should routinely collect data on racial and Indigenous identity to address inequities in healthcare and the best way to do that is during the health card application or renewal process, a group of experts says. Black and Indigenous patients have less access to care and worse outcomes but allowing them to voluntarily provide identity data could track racism in the healthcare system. Experts say it would also monitor any progress toward addressing stereotypes that lead to poorer care for some people. Many racialized communities, which have higher rates of some chronic diseases, including diabetes, heart disease and certain types of cancer, have called for race-based data to gain insights into contributing factors such as poverty.