Members of the European Parliament have called for immediate and comprehensive measures to tackle gender-based health inequalities, emphasizing the need for targeted investment and research in women’s health.

In a decisive vote, the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality has adopted a report urging the European Union to take significant steps to address systemic gender disparities in health. With 27 votes in favor and 9 against, the report highlights the structural nature of these inequalities, which stem from decades of medical research predominantly focused on male anatomy, adversely affecting women’s healthcare experiences.

The report advocates for mandatory gender-sensitive research practices throughout the medical research cycle, stressing the importance of including women, particularly those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, in clinical trials. It also calls for the integration of gender-disaggregated data in all EU-funded health projects to ensure that women’s health needs are adequately represented and addressed.

MEPs have urged the European Commission to establish clear, measurable targets to combat health inequalities as part of a broader women’s health strategy. They emphasize the necessity of addressing under-researched conditions such as endometriosis and mental health issues, while also condemning harmful practices like denial of abortion care and obstetric violence. Rapporteur Billy Kelleher underscored the critical need for women’s health to be recognized as a fundamental aspect of overall healthcare quality.