What does 'health equity' refer to?

Health equity is fundamentally about ensuring that all individuals have a fair and just opportunity to achieve their highest level of health. This means recognizing and addressing the various social, economic, and environmental factors that can affect health outcomes. It focuses on the disparities that exist within populations and seeks to eliminate these inequities by providing support and resources to those who are disadvantaged or marginalized.

While the other options touch on aspects related to health or healthcare, they do not encapsulate the essence of health equity as thoroughly. For instance, the concept of wealth distribution in health care is related to resource allocation but does not address fairness in health opportunities. Likewise, prioritizing physical health over mental health overlooks the holistic nature of health equity, which values both aspects equally. Finally, while equality of access to medical treatment is important, it does not fully capture the broader definition of health equity, which emphasizes justice and opportunity beyond just access to care. Therefore, the correct option reflects the holistic approach necessary for achieving true health equity.