Using a health equity lens on any work in any field will help ensure that the needs of any vulnerable individuals, neighbourhoods and communities are being considered when planning a program, service, initiative or policy.

There are different ways to consider health equity in your planning. The simplest way is to ask the following three questions during your planning process:

• Could the planned program, service, initiative or policy have a negative impact on some populations or communities? If so, how can the negative/inequitable impacts be mitigated?

• How do we consider the needs of vulnerable individuals and communities?

• How will the planned program, service, initiative or policy address the social determinants of health? (Source: OPHA, 2014).

Another way to apply a health equity lens is to do a health equity impact assessment (HEIA) on your program, service, initiative or policy. The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has developed a HEIA tool that can be used during your planning to ensure that all vulnerable groups are being considered.