Abstract
The aim of this research is to analyze the disparities in the distribution of information and communication technologies and skills across geographically determined population groups and to identify the source of the inequity. Literature showed that the nature of e-Health has the potential to resolve health inequalities. However, its successful implementation depends on such factors as the accessibility of required technologies to all people, the existence of technical infrastructure as well as people having the necessary information and communication skills. Employment of the Theil index allowed us to measure and decompose the national inequality into both: between and within macro-regions differences. Data was collected from Statistics Poland. The results showed the existence of inequity and its drivers. The novelty of this research results from application of the Theil index in the field of eHealth and identification of the barrier in access to e-Health, which can be a basis for improvement in government policy.
Highlights
The World Health Organization proclaims in its Constitution [1] that “ . . . the highest attainable standard of health is a fundamental right of every human being.” the existence of health inequalities is a major obstacle in achieving health justice [2]
It requires the monitoring of a number of factors such as: gender, socioeconomic and education status, geographic location, racial and ethnic differences, access to healthcare, health resources and the quality of health care, all of which affect the achievement of health equity
Regarding the digital skills of the Polish population, the results show a relatively slight level of inequity as values vary in the range from 0.0035 to 0.0354 in the case of people with low, basic skills and higher than basic digital skills
Summary
The World Health Organization proclaims in its Constitution [1] that “ . . . the highest attainable standard of health is a fundamental right of every human being.” the existence of health inequalities is a major obstacle in achieving health justice [2]. Health inequity appears if systematic differences in health could be avoidable by taking the appropriate action [3] It requires the monitoring of a number of factors such as: gender, socioeconomic and education status, geographic location, racial and ethnic differences, access to healthcare, health resources and the quality of health care, all of which affect the achievement of health equity. If people do not have the skills or access to computers and networks they cannot use such technologies effectively and that would govern exposure to health-related risks among other discrimination in the digital health [7] This risk is crucial in lowand middle-income countries and in rural and underserved areas within developed countries [8]. Implementation of any ICT into healthcare requires a particular attention focused on equity impacts [10]
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