Principles
Principle 1: Each of us commits to standing up for equity
-
Equity begins with individual responsibility whereby we actively challenge our own and others biases, uphold fairness and challenge inequity. By fostering a personal commitment to equity, we each contribute to creating a more just and inclusive sector.
-
Educate ourselves on diversity, equity, and inclusion
Seek to understand and reflect on our biases
Speak up for equity and challenge discrimination
Support initiatives that promote fairness.
Principle 2 : Leaders, teams & organisations champion equity
-
Leaders set the tone for equity by prioritising inclusive policies and day-to-day practices, ensuring that all individuals have access to the resources, support and opportunities they need to succeed. Teams and organisations continuously advocate for diverse perspectives and ensure equity is embedded in all aspects of their work, resulting in systemic fairness, addressing inequities and promoting equality.
-
For those in leadership positions, lead by example through values and behaviours
Embed equity into organisational strategy and track progress.
Align team objectives with these goals
Recognise and support teams and individuals who champion equity.
Principle 3 : Equity embedded into policy & practice
-
Equity is reflected in organisational policies and day-to-day practices, ensuring that all individuals have access to the resources and opportunities they need to succeed. By integrating equity into policies, organisations promote systemic fairness, addressing inequities and promoting equality.
-
Develop a framework by which all local policies are scrutinised through an Equality Impact Assessment lens
Facilitate opportunities to share the Equity Charter with parliamentarians and policy-makers
Use the opportunities when engaging with policy-makers to ensure equitable practice within digital health
Principle 4 : Equity at the centre of digital strategy & transformation
-
Digital transformation prioritises equity by ensuring that technological advancements benefit all individuals, regardless of background or circumstance. An equitable digital strategy involves addressing accessibility barriers, promoting digital literacy, and ensuring that technology serves the diverse needs of communities.
-
Have an organisational (digital) strategy which explicitly incorporates equity
Ensure activities arising from the strategy incorporate equity.
For public sector organisations, an Equality Impact Assessment of the strategy and related programmes
Principle 5 : Digital teams represent the wider workforce & communities they serve
-
Diverse digital teams reflect the wider workforce and broader demographic they serve. Practicing inclusive recruitment will help include varied perspectives, so teams can better understand the needs of different communities and create more effective, equitable products and services.
-
Provide support for line managers around cultural competence to recognise and tackle unconscious bias
Monitor equity of access to development opportunities at all levels, and take steps to address disparities
Regularly collect and review data on the demographic composition of senior teams, organisational retention rates, and staff wellbeing feedback, with clear action plans to address gaps
Continually review current recruitment to embed inclusive practices, covering advertising posts, assessing applicants and interviews
Principle 6: Equity embedded in research & innovation
-
Research and innovation in digital health should be designed to benefit all, particularly underserved communities. By prioritising inclusivity in research, equity is embedded from the start, ensuring that the outcomes of digital innovation address real-world disparities and promote access for all.
-
Develop and track metrics that measure the inclusion of diverse groups in digital health research and innovation
Ensure digital research considers and addresses health disparities and improving outcomes for underserved communities
Involve patients and the public at all stages, including shaping digital research and innovation priorities.
Principle 7: Digital products & services are designed equitably
-
Digital products and services are developed with accessibility, fairness, and inclusivity in mind. This includes designing user-friendly interfaces, addressing barriers to access and ensuring that products meet the needs of diverse populations, particularly those who have been historically underserved.
-
Conduct inclusive user research which ensures diverse voices are heard in the design process
Adhere to recognised accessibility guidelines, such as WCAG (web Content Accessibility Guidelines) in all phases of development
Implement universal design principles for accessibility and usability across different abilities and needs
Continuously evaluate and monitor equity impact to identify and correct disparities in access and use
Our partner
Coming soon
Website
Principle 8: Ethical procurement & contracting promotes equity
-
Procurement and contracting processes prioritise fairness, transparency and equity. By encouraging vendors and the supply chain to demonstrate explicitly their commitment to equity, organisations are more likely to procure products which are designed with diverse communities in mind. This promotes economic inclusion and addresses systemic inequalities in supply chains.
-
For public sector organisations, go beyond the minimum 10% in sustainability and social value and hold suppliers accountable through contracting
Prioritise diversity and inclusion in supplier selection (including supply chain) by targeting diverse vendors and SMEs
Ask if vendors adhere to the principles in this charter and ask them to provide evidence to back this up
Integrate equity into contract terms by ensuring suppliers are held accountable for equitable practices and inclusive policies
Conduct regular audits to evaluate and improve the equity impact of procurement and contracting
Our partner
Coming soon
Website
Principle 9: Equity in use of data & design of algorithms
-
Data collection and algorithmic design must be carried out ethically, with an emphasis on fairness and accountability. Data collection and algorithmic design must be carried out ethically, with an emphasis on fairness and accountability. Understanding how data reflects society along with limitations and bias in that data and taking action to avoid perpetuating biases are critical for preventing inequitable health outcomes.
-
Design algorithms and collect data with equitable outcomes in mind
Develop and publish clear documentation about design of algorithms, how they work, their real world impacts and limitations
Be transparent about the use of systems for bias detection and put in place learning systems to review and mitigate inequitable outcomes
Apply the Standing Together recommendations (and for funders and commissioners, require those you fund to apply them)
Principle 10: Equitable health & wellbeing outcomes for underserved communities
-
Digital health addresses the unique needs of underserved communities. By focusing on equity, organisations reduce health disparities, ensuring all individuals, regardless of socio-economic status or geographic location, enjoy equal health outcomes as a result of digital health interventions..
-
Tailor digital health interventions to the unique needs of underserved communities by understanding their specific health priorities and involving communities
Improve access to quality digital health services by removing barriers that prevent their use
Focus on social determinants of health by addressing broader factors like housing, food security, and education that impact health outcomes
