Since the adoption of the Oviedo Convention, developments in biomedicine and in society have taken place that result in increasing disparities in access to healthcare. For instance, an increasing number of innovative treatments and healthcare technologies have entered the market yet, because of their price, may not be accessible to everyone. In a parallel development, broader social and demographic changes (e.g. ageing populations and migration) are causing some groups in society to systematically face more difficulties in accessing healthcare. These difficulties are compounded by budget cuts which are putting pressure on healthcare systems and are increasing the risk of inequities in healthcare. These inequities are especially harmful for individuals and groups who are already disadvantaged.

The second pillar of the Strategic Action Plan addresses the increasing risk of health disparities by promoting equity, in accordance with the right to equitable access to healthcare pursuant to Article 3 of the Oviedo Convention. This obliges States party to the Convention, to adopt the necessary measures to prevent discrimination, thereby implying the identification, reduction, and ultimately elimination of disparities in access to existing and new treatments and technologies. This necessitates special efforts to improve access for disadvantaged individuals and groups, and to ensure that new developments do not create or exacerbate existing disadvantage.