Population health is concerned with reducing health inequities, defined as being unfair and avoidable differences in health. The equity-effectiveness framework is described and illustrated; this is an evidence-based approach to assessing the effects of programmes and policies on health equity. Such framework also assesses barriers and facilitators for improving health equity using four factors: access, diagnostic accuracy, adherence and compliance. This framework emphasises the importance of transferring knowledge for designing and implementing clinical and public health interventions to improve health in all socioeconomic strata, based on the best available evidence. The World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre on Health Technology Assessment is now using this framework for organising the components of its equity-orientated, evidence-based toolkit.