Health Care Inequity

Health Care Inequity
A Broken System
Sunday, May 8 2:30pm

Pittsburgh has long boasted its status as "America's Most Livable City." But a closer examination reveals deep and troubling health disparities in marginalized communities. 

Inequities in the African American community extend to every facet of health, including lifespan, fetal and maternal death, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Among the region's Hispanic residents and immigrant families, language and geographic obstacles make access to health care and insurance a major concern. Challenges for LGBTQIA+ residents include stigmatization among health care providers. The transgender community is recently coming into an era of increased rights, yet misgendering and societal violence is ever present. For people living with disabilities, poverty combined with barriers to top level medical professionals and insurance is a daily struggle. As a former industrial city, citizens living in environmentally hazardous areas still face increased risks of asthma, cancer, and other illnesses. And so-called food and medical deserts sit squarely in the communities impacted the most. In a 30-minute documentary, WQED explores the reasons behind the inequities and introduces people working for positive change.