Experts discuss how to solve the gender health gap

Watch back our International Women’s Day discussion exploring the gender health gap with Dr Jess Taylor, Le’Nise Brothers, Sandra Igwe and Dr Geeta Nargund

Clockwise from top left: Maya Oppenheim, Dr Geeta Nargund, Sandra Igwe, Le’Nise Brothers, Dr Jess Taylor and Rebecca Thomas (The Independent)

The gender health gap is a long-standing, deeply entrenched problem that stretches back centuries - yet it is only finally starting to get the attention it deserves.

Experts explored the issue in an International Women’s Day panel for The Independent where they argued proper education of health professionals and engaging in open honest conversations are just some of the steps that must be taken to solve the gender health gap.

But the question remains: What is the gender health gap? It is a term used to describe the disparity in health outcomes and treatment experienced by male and female patients. However, the gender health gap does not operate in a vacuum, with many women being forced to grapple with far worse experiences due to their race, sexuality or disability.

Dr Geeta Nargund, founder and medical director of CREATE Fertility and co-founder of the Ginsburg Women’s Health Board, told the panel a great deal of work needed to be done to remove barriers and eliminate stigma for women.

“You should not be able to use women’s trauma against them in the healthcare system,” Dr Jessica Taylor, a psychologist who is the author of Why Women Are Blamed For Everything.

While Sandra Igwe, founder of The Motherhood Group, stressed the need for self-education and reflection to overcome prejudices and tackle unconscious bias.

“Allow us and encourage us to be honest and vulnerable,” she added. “Create safe spaces where we can be ourselves.”

Ms Igwe, author of My Black Motherhood: Mental Health, Stigma, Racism and the System, went on to say: “We are the best advocates for ourselves so get us to advocate. Many of us feel silenced and shy.”

Le’Nise Brothers, women’s health and wellbeing expert and author of You Can Have a Better Period, on the other hand, argued it was important to remove the onus on the patient to advocate for themselves.

She said: “It can be challenging if you don’t have the inner strength” and stressed the need for GPs to be willing to research conditions further.

Many experts warn scientific research has long overlooked women’s bodies - with many conditions which only affect women receiving less funding. There are also a number of studies that show women’s pain is often taken far less seriously than that of men.

While the data demonstrates women are not only forced to spend longer stretches of time waiting in emergency departments but are also less likely to be prescribed effective painkillers than men. At the end of last year, the government announced a new position of women’s health ambassador would be created to help “reset the dial” on decades of gender health inequality in England.

Five experts from a range of backgrounds came together for a wide-ranging discussion on the gender health gap hosted by myself, Maya Oppenheim, The Independent’s Women’s Correspondent, on Tuesday.

The expert panel included Rebecca Thomas, The Independent’s Health Correspondent, Dr Taylor, Ms Brothers, Ms Igwe and Dr Nargund.

What ensued was an impassioned riveting discussion packed with information, with some of the panelists disagreeing about whether NHS health professionals are impacted by class bias. To see The Independent virtual event on the gender health gap in full, watch the video below: