What is the gender health gap?
The gender health gap refers to the difference in the way men and women experience healthcare.
This is because there’s a lack of funding and research put towards understanding how certain diseases and medications impact women.
For example, despite women making up more than half the population of Canada, only 7% of national funding goes to women’s health research.
Why does the gender health gap exist?
Research
Health research doesn’t always consider sex and gender.
Many prescription drug therapies and treatments still used today were studied mainly on men.
Society
Factors including income, employment status and housing, all influence someone’s risk for disease or injury and women are at even more risk.
Women who live in low-income, marginalized and disadvantaged communities have more health problems such as hypertension, arthritis, diabetes, heart disease and substance abuse issues.
They may also face stigmatization and significant barriers accessing health services and attending appointments due to cultural or social circumstances that make it difficult for them to discuss their health.
According to the Market Basket Measure (MBM), Canada’s Official Poverty Line, the poverty rate among women and girls in 2021 was 7.7%. The poverty rate among people in 1-parent families headed by a woman in 2021 was 17.2%. .
There may be barriers to accessing healthcare including lack of health insurance and childcare responsibilities.
Biology
Researchers and doctors are continuing to discover that many diseases and conditions affect women disproportionately and differently than men and that treatments and therapies can differ in both small and huge ways. Some health conditions where this applies include:
- Heart disease
- Osteoporosis
- Autoimmune conditions
- Mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety and eating disorders
There are also health concerns that only affect women:
- Pelvic and uterine health issues such as endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
- Menstrual disorders and menopause
- Fertility and maternal health
How the gender health gap impacts the Canadian workplace
Poor health and poor access to medical treatment can result in employees taking more time off work and more sick days. It could also even lead to some women deciding to leave an organization because they don’t feel supported with proper benefits that suite their needs.
There are ways you can support women in your workplace to help close off some of the healthcare gaps they may be facing.
How you can support women’s health in the workplace
Offer a benefits plan
Offering a workplace benefits plan that takes into account health challenges women could be experiencing can help them cover the cost of medications and other necessary. treatments.
You can also offer support by providing:
- A drug plan that covers medications for things that specifically impact women like PCOS, endometriosis and menopause.
- A health care spending account or wellness account that offers coverage flexibility for women’s needs.
- Access to a virtual health care service like Consult+ to answer non-urgent medical concerns, provide advice and write prescriptions without having to leave home or work. Learn more about our virtual health offering by speaking with your Canada Life representative.
- Access to Teladoc Medical Experts. Explore how our partnership and product offering with Teladoc Medical Experts can support the unique needs of women with this Women’s Health Guide | PDF 9 MB. To learn more or to add Teladoc to your plan, speak with your Canada Life representative.
- Information on Pillcheck, a service that all members have access to and can help your employees find the medications which will be most effective with reduced or no adverse side effects for their genetic makeup.
Create a flexible workplace
Offering flexibility in how and when your employees work can help increase comfort levels and productivity.
If possible, you can offer work-from-home options and flexible hours so that all employees can make time for any necessary medical appointments.
By supporting women’s health in the workplace, not only are you helping your employees be more productive, but it shows you care and value their wellbeing as individuals.