Priority populations are the target populations specific to the health education and health promotion programs. These populations face healthcare disparities on varying grounds and their healthcare needs are not safisfied to the minimum required standards.

According to the Healthcare Research and Quality Act of 1999 (S.580), h ealth care for priority populations shall include—

(i) low-income groups;
(ii) minority groups;
(iii) women;
(iv) children;
(v) the elderly; and
(vi) individuals with special health care needs, including individuals with disabilities and individuals who need chronic care or end-of-life health care.

For more information, please refer to http://www.ahrq.gov/hrqa99.pdf