Havas Health Network and Republica Havas Health Converge Forces to Expose Inequities in the Health Care Provider (HCP) Sector
“The Hidden Divide: Examining Inequities in Healthcare Provider Training and Practices” unveils disparities and lays groundwork for pioneering study to close health equity gaps
MIAMI – April 2025 – Havas Health Network, the largest global health and wellness network, and Republica Havas Health, the award-winning cross-cultural healthcare and pharma marketing agency of global advertising giant Havas, have converged forces to launch an Executive Report that presents an in-depth analysis of persistent-yet-understudied inequities perpetuated by the HCP community.
Titled “The Hidden Divide: Examining Inequities in Healthcare Provider Training and Practices,” the Executive Report is a comprehensive compendium of topical intelligence from leading and recently released peer-reviewed papers, governmental and organizational data, news articles and podcasts, health policy study reports, and public policy sources. It is co-authored by: Suketu Patel, MD, PhD, Global Chief Medical Officer, Havas Health Network; Eirasmin Lokpez-Cobo, MA, MS, Executive Vice-President, Brand Strategy Health, Republica Havas Health; Brianna Calderon-Roman, MS, Senior Health Strategist, Republica Havas Health; and Jarvier Mohammed, PhD, Scientific Associate, Havas Health Network.
The Executive Report provides insight into the overlooked systemic disparities perpetuated in HCP training and practices, and the pivotal role of HCPs in alleviating health inequities for underserved groups as the main patient-facing and frontline sentinels of healthcare. It covers how efforts to promote health equity in the U.S. began in the mid-late 1980s and have evolved over the decades, with increasing focus on Social Determinants of Health (SDOH), systemic racism, and the need for culturally competent care in recent years.
Lokpez-Cobo, who was honored with MM+M’s prestigious Women of Distinction Award, notes: “Research and initiatives focused on social determinants of health are inherently patient-centric. However, understanding and addressing inequities on the healthcare providers’ side is equally critical, as providers are on the front lines of care. To truly improve health outcomes, we must consider both the social context of patients and the role of providers in mitigating or perpetuating these inequities.”
With the U.S. population projected to be 60% diverse by 2060, the Executive Report provides insight on the pivotal role of HCPs to alleviate health inequities as the main patient-facing and frontline sentinels of healthcare. Panoptic in scope, “The Hidden Divide” unveils three overarching contributors to healthcare inequities on the HCP side: unconscious bias, lack of representation, and inadequate cultural competency.
- Lack of Representation: When HCPs don’t reflect the backgrounds of their patients, it can erode trust, delay diagnoses, and compromise care quality.
- Cultural Gaps in Care: Without proper cultural training or self-awareness, HCPs may struggle to communicate effectively with diverse patients, worsening health disparities.
- Medical Bias: Conscious or unconscious biases can influence how HCPs perceive, treat, and make decisions about patient care.
“Health equity initiatives often overlook the role of healthcare providers,” said Patel, MD, PhD, Global Chief Medical Officer, Havas Health Network. “We must address the inequities, as physician-patient communication and trust are the foundation of equitable healthcare and our most powerful tool for delivering quality, competent care.”
By offering preliminary strategic considerations, the paper equips the pharma and healthcare industries with actionable insights to better understand these systemic issues and initial thought starters on considerations to address inequities in care.
Jorge A. Plasencia, Global Chief Client Officer of Havas Creative Network and CEO of Republica Havas, states: “Brands can’t afford to take a one-size-fits-all approach to healthcare. A cross-cultural agency rooted in health equity isn’t just valuable—it’s vital. Republica Havas Health exists to break barriers, build trust, and drive real, lasting impact for cross-cultural communities.”
DTC Perspectives will be spotlighting “The Hidden Divide” during a special webinar and in a healthcare industry publication this coming fall. The report has already been presented at three recent national conferences, including Social Determinants of Health, Cardiometabolic Congress, and the annual Society of Gynecological Oncology.
“To deliver actual, authentic interactions, marketers must first seek to truly understand their audience deeply from a cultural perspective,” says Dennis Urbaniak, Global Chief Client Officer & Global Chief Experience Officer of Havas Health Network. “In healthcare that demands the recognition of deep social determinants of health constraints and other aspects of bias, both explicit and implicit, followed by action to address and drive changes related to these issues.”
Republica Havas Health is an NMSDC minority- and Corporate Plus-certified agency leading cross-cultural health and wellness marketing, helping brands connect authentically and effectively with multicultural audiences. The Hidden Divide is the sequel to a two-part series of reports that will explore barriers and motivations across diverse patient demographics. The first is Equity in Action: Mapping the Multicultural Patient Journey for Inclusive Strategies.
Havas Health Network unites Havas Life, Havas Lynx, and Jacques, all wholly owned health and communications networks, with the consumer health businesses and practices of Havas Creative Network. The network’s approach is centered around human purpose and has the talent, tenacity, and technology that health companies, brands, and people need to thrive in today’s world.
