Table 1 Definition of key concepts

Health equity

The absence of avoidable or remediable differences in health among and between groups of people, ensuring that all people have full access to opportunities that enable them to lead healthy lives, and taking into account social, political, and economic influences [2, 3].

Healthcare equity

The absence of avoidable or remediable differences in healthcare access among and between groups of people; taking into account geographic, economic, organizational, sociocultural, and relational influences on healthcare access; and the design and delivery of healthcare services [19, 28,29,30,31].

Cancer care sector

Health services policy, planning, and delivery with the goal and/or mandate of controlling cancer including: primary prevention, screening, diagnostic services, treatment, surveillance, survivorship care, end-of-life care, and research.