![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/824a8a6b-6737-4c17-a6d5-baa96d97d160/ebf59632-311e-4b52-b021-f7a9d5987d4e_rw_1920.jpg?h=f049d0ab1d3bff2107a0002022d6aab9)
The Urgent Need to Improve Health Equity
Editorial series for Scientific American on health equity. A special dossier highlighting problems and solutions. An in-depth look into health inequity in the US.
“COVlD made obvious what many already knew: Inequity-whether because of race, culture, skin color, income or caste-can be lethal.”
CLIENT: SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN | ART DIRECTION: MICHAEL MRAK | ILLUSTRATIONS: CHIARA VERCESI
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/824a8a6b-6737-4c17-a6d5-baa96d97d160/6f54520e-419f-4101-b60a-febe836a30e3_rw_1920.jpg?h=dee0c3911274a4385366628948fd9c8c)
The Covid vaccine as an exclusive luxury
Moderna's CEO refused to share their vaccine formula with firms in South Africa, with the remark, “It is like when somebody makes a copy of a Louis Vuitton bag… Does it look like a Louis Vuitton bag? Does it last like a Louis Vuitton bag? I don’t know.” This horrific statement stuck with me from the moment I read it and became the fil rouge of the whole series. When health care becomes a luxury, we withhold it from those who need it the most. Is this what scientific progress is meant for?
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/824a8a6b-6737-4c17-a6d5-baa96d97d160/b3c25438-e482-40b9-bfe7-2b45fd2a3e38_rw_1920.jpg?h=495b006fae59e67f5617c1aab54f7d89)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/824a8a6b-6737-4c17-a6d5-baa96d97d160/3ef6d9dc-0314-49ec-aaa4-e5bb9e5334cd_rw_1920.jpg?h=4a6bffbfef8335e0aca4990a12bf0a9b)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/824a8a6b-6737-4c17-a6d5-baa96d97d160/c81aa938-84ba-48a0-9971-b8fbb8d5cf81_rw_1920.jpg?h=5ba2182e0fc35d664e61c25707966965)
Gatekeepers of Health
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/824a8a6b-6737-4c17-a6d5-baa96d97d160/112feb09-815c-4c7c-b597-d48ae0773ea2_rw_1920.jpg?h=e26807e53daadcb066d9bd45bd43fbc0)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/824a8a6b-6737-4c17-a6d5-baa96d97d160/c50235fa-d27c-472b-b7e9-520785e1887a_rw_1920.jpg?h=f0ed8c8420c99db8f0817637c9b1b951)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/824a8a6b-6737-4c17-a6d5-baa96d97d160/00dabef5-776c-4cc6-8d37-6241ac97a672_rw_1920.jpg?h=3d5e0582ef6e137cea19202107ef3c9f)
Mental Health Care Should Be Available for All, Not a Luxury
The stress of COVID fractured a system that was already cracked
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/824a8a6b-6737-4c17-a6d5-baa96d97d160/79d4e157-a2eb-4bfd-83ec-e80fc595964e_rw_1920.jpg?h=e6b8c3dd4ab0f698c0736214f26c7275)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/824a8a6b-6737-4c17-a6d5-baa96d97d160/fbfac8f6-f45c-480a-b1f4-639a88e5344f_rw_1920.jpg?h=5f507bc48f66e1b74dcf153e27460962)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/824a8a6b-6737-4c17-a6d5-baa96d97d160/06f1480e-8c9d-43f8-96fb-22c9b5bfece1_rw_1920.jpg?h=6aa5580ce7145f0a8f4594aad3ae1126)
Discrimination is breaking people’s hearts
Heart attacks, strokes and other consequences of cardiovascular disease are particularly dangerous for people who face inequity.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/824a8a6b-6737-4c17-a6d5-baa96d97d160/24c95c3a-9823-40df-8851-e93889c47d75_rw_1920.jpg?h=f3453868345cdd1bcf1e7e9cc18c3d18)