Gender medicine is based on an ethical principle that values greater appropriateness and efficacy of care and as an effective first step towards an authentic personalized and fairer medicine to overcome inequalities in health and access to health services (Equity Act WHO 2000 : equal access to care between men and women and adequacy and appropriateness of care according to their gender).
The gender dimension in health is not only a need for method and analysis, but also becomes a tool for system governance and governance, a requirement of our
NHS: to make the gender approach central and build a qualified point of view on the health of women and girls and men and children, to achieve equity and greater appropriateness of the prevention, treatment and overall development of sustainable health policies, ensuring a fair and appropriate use of resources.
The aim of the European Commission report is to provide a transversal view of the main health issues in the EU from a gender perspective, analyzing the main issues with specific attention to the differences between women and men. Gender is discussed at the level of individual mental and physical health and within health systems.
The report presents current data and literature and outlines key areas for policy development and action. Illustrative practices are provided on access to gender-sensitive health services and services. An overview of gender issues in time of a COVID-19 pandemic is provided.
Recognizing the importance of social, environmental and economic determinants for health (WHO, 2019), the conclusions and recommendations place the data within the broader framework of social policy and gender equity in health.
Women and men face gender-specific health risks and diseases. Although life expectancy is lower for men, the benefit of women does not translate into healthier years as women in Europe report worse health than men and suffer from a greater burden of non-fatal and debilitating conditions.
Gender norms influence health status as well as access to health services. The first is partly due to biological differences, but different social factors also underlie the differences in health and certainly in access and absorption. For example, men and women are affected differently by the social determinants of health, with women particularly affected by unfavorable socioeconomic and psychosocial factors.
The morbidity disadvantage of women – and the mortality disadvantage of men – may be a consequence of social structures, traditions, discrimination, gender norms and policies that limit women’s access to social and social privileges. employment and economic resources.
Family work strain is also more likely to impact women’s physical and mental health. Women are more likely to experience single parenting and to be unemployed or underemployed due to family responsibilities and, especially historically, lower access to education. Gender inequalities in health must be analyzed and addressed to promote gender equality and support all Europeans to thrive and reach their full potential.
The European Union Strategy for Gender Equality 2020-2025 recognizes gender-specific health risks and, among others, provides for the facilitation of regular exchanges of good practices between Member States and stakeholders on gender of health, including sexual and reproductive rights.