For decades, women’s health has been overlooked in medical research, funding and healthcare. Now, the European Parliament is calling for a major shift in how Europe approaches women’s health.
The European Parliament has adopted a report on gender inequalities in health, led by rapporteur Billy Kelleher MEP (Fianna Fáil, IE). The report addresses inequalities across the healthcare cycle, from representation in medical research and clinical trials to how women are diagnosed, treated and cared for.
Historically, medical research has often been built around the male body, leaving gaps in our understanding of how diseases, medicines and treatments affect women. Today, women remain under-represented in clinical research, contributing to gaps in diagnosis, treatment and care.
“Women’s health has been under-researched, underfunded and too often overlooked for far too long. The consequences are felt by millions of women who wait too long for a diagnosis or struggle to get the care they need. Parliament is sending a clear message today: women’s health must move up the political agenda and be treated as the major health priority it is,” Kelleher explained.
The report calls for better representation of women in clinical trials, improved health data and better training for healthcare professionals. It also supports sexual and reproductive health and rights, including My Voice, My Choice and the call to include safe, legal and accessible abortion in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
The European Parliament is also calling for a dedicated EU women’s health strategy, with clear targets and funding for women’s health research, gender-specific conditions and better health data. Kelleher continued:
“Investing in women’s health is an investment in Europe’s future. Estimates suggest that closing the investment gaps in women’s healthcare could add $1 trillion to the global economy every year by 2040. Europe should seize that opportunity by putting women’s health at the heart of our research and innovation agenda. Greater investment can improve the lives of millions of women while driving scientific progress and economic growth. We have the expertise to lead this change and now we need the political ambition to match it.”
Closing the women’s health gap means putting women’s health back where it belongs at the heart of Europe’s health and research agenda.