by Rebecca Crocket
Once upon a time, talking about your menstrual health was the conversational equivalent of shutting a door in someone’s face. The culture of silence around women’s bodies forced Maxi pads into hiding at the bottom of handbags and the secrets of menopause to slink around in the darkness like the boogeyman.
However, the rise of social media has finally brought women’s health into the spotlight. As period product companies swap out mysterious blue liquid for anatomical red in their adverts, governments have had to face the widening gender health gap, putting people’s lives at risk.
The significant gender health gap in the UK
Yet, the UK government still seems to struggle to prioritise women’s health despite having the largest gender health gap in the G20 and the 12th largest globally. These figures come from the annual Hologic Global Women’s Health Index; worryingly, the latest report found that the UK had dropped a further seven places since the previous year.
When news hit in January that the government was considering scrapping £25 million in funding to Women’s Health Hubs, it was another blow to equitable healthcare. These hubs were supposed to deliver streamlined access to menstrual, reproductive, and gynaecological services.
Earlier in the month, Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, had already dropped targets for widening access to Health Hubs in England. Announcing a new, tighter mandate for the NHS at the end of January, Streeting signalled, “The culture of routine overspending without consequences is over.” But assured voters the new plan would “deliver on patients’ priorities.”
Ironically, cuts to Women’s Health services only serve to put female patients’ priorities last. Despite their manifesto claiming that healthcare for women would no longer be “neglected”. When Labour realised the economic difficulties left by the previous government, the wellbeing of women was sacrificed.
Women’s health charities and advocates have been quick to speak out against proposed service cuts. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) wrote to the government, reinforcing their support for hubs: “It is clear that women’s health hubs are an essential element in both delivering more care in the community and reducing pressure on elective services, identified as key strategic objectives for the Government.”
Investing in women’s health is profitable for everyone
It’s true, not only would investing in women’s health improve the lives of billions of women worldwide, it also might make the UK a profit. A report from the NHS Confederation Create Health Foundation and London Economics said an additional £1 in obstetrics and gynaecology services per woman in England could generate around £319 million return to the economy.
The RCOG continued, “If the Government fails to recommit to women’s health hubs, we fear this will result in a deterioration in women’s health and services, an exacerbation of health inequalities and a missed opportunity to support economic growth.”
This raises an important point which so far has been missed by politicians. When you ignore the nine years it takes to be diagnosed with endometriosis, you also lose £11 billion every year to absenteeism from endometriosis, fibroids and ovarian cysts.
When you fail to supply menopausal women with adequate information, that is £1.5 billion down the drain because 60,000 people couldn’t work due to menopause symptoms.
How Australia is prioritising women’s healthcare
There are already countries cashing in on this opportunity. Back in May last year, the Albanese Labour government in Australia gave $160 million (£80 million) to tackle gender bias in healthcare. Within the tailored package, the money is meant to address disparities, upskill medical workers, and improve sexual and reproductive services.
Katy Gallagher, the minister for Finance, Women, and Public Service, announced the move, saying it placed women and gender equality “at the centre of Australia’s economic plan and is making women’s lives safer, fairer and more equal.”
She said, “Our investments signal to Australia that we are serious about improving women’s lives and achieving gender equality in Australia.”
While it’s too early to say how this funding has impacted the healthcare system in Australia, we can look at the success of previous policies centred around women’s lives. For instance, the National Women’s Health Advisory Council was set up in 2022 to address medical misogyny.
It’s important work and is supported by continued, long-term investment in the Council’s goals by the government. At the end of last year, the Council was awarded a further $550,000 to aid their goals.
Assistant Health Minister Ged Kearney, who chairs the council, said continued funding was key to helping close the gender health gap. “Whether through delayed diagnosis, the over or under prescribing of medication, or the outright dismissal of their pain and cost of treatment, women across Australia often suffer poorer health outcomes.
“Thanks to the Council’s work in tackling gender bias, we have shone a light on medical misogyny throughout the health system. This is just the beginning – there is much more work to be done to dismantle the systemic bias that affects women,” she said.
Taiwan: a happy accident in women’s healthcare
While Taiwan currently reigns supreme on the Global Women’s Health Index, its success is a happy accident caused by payroll premiums used to fund its system. It works by letting your income decide how much you pay towards the healthcare system, creating a more equitable level of care.
All citizens get access to preventive, primary, specialist, hospital and mental health services without having to see a GP to receive specialist support. Women benefit from this, but they aren’t at the centre of policymakers’ minds.
Investing in women
Medical Misogyny is draining the potential of nations all over the world. Good health is a privilege, but fair, quality care should be a right for everybody, regardless of gender. Governments need to place Women at the centre of their economic plans or miss out on the biggest investment of the century.
This article is part of the series Fobbed Off and Female: A series on medical misogyny. To read more inspiring stories of everyday women making a real difference in the world, be sure to check out the latest edition of Wempower magazine, listen to our podcast, or watch it on YouTube.
