The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) established the Health Equity Advisory Group in 2021 to address systemic disparities in healthcare access, quality, and outcomes—an effort sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic and predating USP’s formal Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) strategy. The Advisory Group identified inequities rooted in race, socioeconomic status, LGBTQIA2S+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, and two-spirit) identity, homelessness, rural access, health literacy, and data gaps, emphasizing the need for proactive solutions. Through research, workshops, and expert engagement, USP defined three focus areas—health security, health literacy, and health data—and adopted five guiding principles to embed equity into standards: broaden inclusion, integrate social determinants, use real-world data, measure public health outcomes, and ensure equitable access to innovation. These efforts led to the creation of a DEIB Expert Panel and a formal Equity Office, positioning USP to strengthen global leadership in equitable access to safe, high-quality medicines.
