Improving Women's Healthcare Through Data, Leadership
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Improving Women's Healthcare Through Data, Leadership

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Sofía Garduño By Sofía Garduño | Journalist & Industry Analyst - Wed, 03/29/2023 - 09:40

A gender-sensitive social health protection system is essential to address the structural inequalities that affect women in Mexico. While progress has been made to improve women's health, there is still much to do to ensure that women have access to comprehensive healthcare and that their specific needs are addressed.

In Mexico, gender issues are often reduced to violence against women and sexual and reproductive rights. For this reason, it is crucial to have a gender-sensitive health system that recognizes the specific needs and barriers faced by women, explains Edson Serván, Professor, National Institute of Public Health (INSP). “Gender plays a significant role in determining violence in the sphere of health and other sectors,” says Serván.

Women experience more barriers to access healthcare and 75% of the time dedicated to care for members of a household falls on women. Meanwhile, men enjoy more labor considerations. Regarding non communicable diseases, diabetic men receive more care than women do. 

In 2019, 50,000 women died from cancer in Mexico, with breast cancer leading the mortality rate. The death of the mother increases the risk of infant death and school dropout. Shockingly, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast or gynecological cancer in their lifetime, highlights Sarah Aiosa, Vice President,Latin American Federation of the Pharmaceutical Industry (FIFARMA). “The impact of women’s cancer affects far beyond the individual woman. The financial stability and the health of the families and the communities are also affected,” adds Aiosa.

Innovation offers increasingly effective solutions, but it is important to address the root causes of gender inequality to improve women's health outcomes. To ensure their well-being, it is crucial to strengthen efforts to address the intersection of vulnerabilities, particularly for those who are at a greater risk of experiencing violence. Public policy actions must also consider gender realities and roles, which can help eliminate power asymmetries that contribute to violence against women and other marginalized groups, says Serván. 

The generation of data regarding women’s health can be key to achieve this goal. Additionally, it is urgent to have more women in leadership positions, says Robyn Norton, Founder, The George Institute for Global Health. However, there are many challenges ahead. 

"The glass ceiling, a reality that we have heard of for generations, continues to pose challenges of inequity," emphasizes Sharzy Molina, Director General of FAICIC Centro de Investigación Clínica. Molina emphasizes that having women in leadership positions is crucial for the growth and economic development of the country. "A capable woman can accomplish anything. We strive to encourage, support, and uplift women who are struggling because we know they too are capable," adds Molina.

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