Health disparities continue to plague people of color and other disadvantaged people
 
          "Of all forms of inequality, injustice in health care
          is the most shocking and inhumane."
                                                -- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
 
It has been more than 40 years since Dr. King observed the impact of injustice on people of color and other disadvantaged people in American society. Despite advances in science and expansion in access to health care, many people - increasing numbers recent years - fail to receive equal quality of health care, if they have access to health care at all.
 
Economic inequities complicate the ability for people of color to gain access and benefit from the American health care system. In December, 2008, two studies were released correlates a lack of health insurance and blacks with inferior quality of care for colon cancer and diverticulitis. Research presented at the National Institutes of Health First Summit on Racial Health Disparities, also in December, evaluated why black dialysis patients are les likely than whites to be evaluated and listed for kidney transplants and barriers to colonoscopy screenings for blacks.
 
"Advances in science, medicine, and technology have the potential to improve health, but large segments of populations in the United States and globally continue to suffer a disproportionate burden of premature death, disability, and disease," according to the national Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities. "There is a growing body of evidence that points to a complex interaction of factors that may contribute to health disparities." Those factors include biology, socioeconomics, discrimination, politics, environment, culture, and lack of access to health care.
 
The Center is investing in research to understand health disparities, including how they relate to poor health outcomes. Populations that experience health disparities and are more likely to suffer from diseases and conditions such as diabetes, stroke, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, and obesity include African Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, Hispanics, Pacific Islanders (including Native Hawaiians) and individuals of all races/ethnicities living in poor and medically underserved communities.