Culturally safe and equitable care

Culturally safe healthcare shows respect for culture and identity. It incorporates a person’s needs and rights, and is free of discrimination. Equitable care is about meeting every individual’s health needs, no matter their age, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, ability or other factors. Both concepts recognize that racism, discrimination and bias create power imbalances that prevent certain people and groups from getting the care they want and deserve. 

In particular, HEC acknowledges the ongoing impacts of discrimination and colonization on First Nations, Inuit and Métis. Systemic racism and a lack of cultural safety are perpetuating health disparities between First Nations, Inuit and Métis and non-Indigenous people living in Canada.  Several reports* provide evidence of racism in healthcare, confirming it as a contributing factor to mortality and a significant patient safety issue. Experiencing culturally unsafe care is a form of harm within the healthcare system. 

Only patients, families and caregivers can decide whether their experiences are culturally safe. They also have knowledge, skills and resources that can help improve how their care is delivered. HEC is committed to prioritizing the lived experience of patients, families and caregivers, and engaging them as respected partners is essential to advancing health equity – as we work to dismantle systemic racism and other forms of discrimination in the healthcare system. 

HEC is on a continuous journey towards cultural humility. We commit to self-reflection, as individuals and as an organization, and building our competency to be meaningful, trusted partners through listening, learning and engagement. Our efforts will be guided by the priorities and leadership of equity- seeking groups as we work together to address discrimination, and promote cultural safety and equity in the health sector. 

To learn more about Healthcare Excellence Canada’s journey towards truth and reconciliation, read our Truth and Reconciliation Action Plan.

*These include a report from the Quebec coroner’s office regarding the death of Joyce Echaquan, and In Plain Sight: Addressing Indigenous-specific Racism and Discrimination in BC Health Care. HEC recognizes that the lead author of the Report, in its original form, is Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, who has been identified as someone who has falsely claimed Indigenous identity. As an organization, we recognize the significant harms caused by false claims of Indigenous identity, but respect the stories and journeys shared in this report by individuals who have experienced anti-Indigenous racism in the healthcare system. The stories and journeys of racism experienced by Indigenous Peoples of British Columbia recorded in the pages of the Report were foundational to the positive changes in British Columbia towards addressing systemic racism. HEC refers to the Report to honour these stories and journeys and build on this positive change.