[Health equity: an often misused concept]

The use of the concept "health equity" is more and more widespread. It is often considered as a major objective in health policies aimed at improving healthcare for populations in a vulnerable situation. However, the understanding of "health equity" is often subject to confusion and it can be misinterpreted with the concept of "health equality". Although it may seem trivial at first sight, such confusion may lead to serious consequences for health policies and their implementation with the target populations. This article aims to provide a clarification of the concept of "health equity", while proposing definitions that are more suitable to the needs of professionals and their audience.