Research in this area is crucial for understanding and addressing the unique health needs and challenges faced by these communities.

Historically, many studies have overlooked the perspectives and experiences of marginalized groups, leading to significant gaps in knowledge regarding health disparities and access to care. This Collection aims to highlight research that focuses on the social determinants of health, cultural competency, and community-based care, ultimately contributing to a more equitable healthcare system that serves all populations effectively.

Recent advances include the development of culturally tailored interventions, enhanced patient communication strategies, and qualitative research that captures the voices of underrepresented populations. These efforts have begun to explore the barriers to care and the factors that influence health behaviors, paving the way for more inclusive and effective primary care practices.

In this Collection, we welcome submissions that span a wide array of topics, including but not limited to:

- Health inequities in primary care

- Cultural competency in healthcare

- Patient access and barriers to care

- Community-based care models

- Qualitative research on patient perspectives

- Health disparities and cultural competency: addressing health disparities in primary care through cultural competency and understanding patient perspectives

- Access and barriers to care: improving patient access and overcoming barriers, including digital innovations and community-based care models

- Workforce and training: provision, training, and task-shifting of primary care providers in underserved populations, considering national policies and resource limitations

- Innovations and quality improvement: exploring innovation and quality improvement in low-resource settings

- Models of care: developing and implementing effective models of care, including public-private partnerships and disease-oriented initiatives

- Funding and resource allocation: enhancing funding and resource allocation to improve primary care and to mitigate disparities

- Disease-oriented initiatives: aligning disease-oriented initiatives in primary care to make them more comprehensive, efficient, and patient-centered for underrepresented populations

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities. As research in this area continues to grow, we may see the emergence of innovative models of care that prioritize community engagement and collaboration. Future studies could lead to the establishment of best practices for addressing health disparities and fostering a healthcare environment that is not only accessible but also responsive to the diverse needs of all patients.

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer-review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.

Social prescribing has emerged as a promising approach in primary care, involving the referral of patients to non-clinical services and activities in the community to address their health and well-being needs. This Collection aims to gather research that explores the implementation and impact of social prescribing interventions, the role of community resources in promoting health outcomes, and the integration of social prescribing within primary care settings. We invite submissions that investigate the effectiveness of social prescribing in addressing health disparities, promoting health equity, and enhancing patient-centered care.

Suggested topics for the Collection include:

- Impact of social prescribing on health outcomes

- Integration of social prescribing in primary care

- Community resources and social prescribing interventions

- Addressing health disparities through social prescribing

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer-review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.