Gender Equity in Health and Health Care

2186 Words5 Pages

Introduction It is often challenging to have health care services that meet the needs of Canada’s diverse population and the needs of both men and women. Gender influences access to care and women in particular are at risk for face difficulties to care (Ontario Women`s Health Equity Report, 2010 p.1). Women are more likely to be poor and have greater caregiver responsibilities in contrast to men. These both factors are barriers to accessing health services. The way the health care system is organized creates barriers to accessing effective care for women because it has failed to take into account that men and women use the health care system very differently. Canada’s health care system reinforces gender inequity rather than eliminating it. For instance, drug research bias favour males and epistemological bias assume that women’s health is only about reproductive health. As a result of these biases, women are often excluded and their health needs are not fully addressed. The Romanow Report (2002) and the Accord on Health Care Renewal (2003) has made a strong commitment to understanding the importance of the non-medical determinants of health, such as income and social status; employment; education; social environments; physical environments; healthy child development; personal health practices and coping skills; health services; social support networks; gender; and culture (Health Canada, 2001). They have also committed to gender based analysis and women’s health but, this is not visible in its work to date on Canada’s health care reform. This paper will address how the Romanow Report, the Accord on Health Care Renewal and current health policies have failed to address the health needs of women in regards to support for family ... ... middle of paper ... ...n&gl=ca&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEEShaXeH2pueVryd16rY6Zp-ZOKQ1DkugWF-FPhEXXWIhZhZtN_5xEY89JhIf1ywxwAvS-g8I1KDQZ7wcfi_veu40kVAUgVd_n6pyimAUd9PSMP-5wCl96RuDmn9AS2m8xarnszfJ&sig=AHIEtb Phillips, K. (2009, September 1). Catastrophic Drug Coverage in Canada (PRB 09-06E). Parliament of Canada . Retrieved March 12, 2012, from http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/LOP/ResearchPublications/prb0906-e.htm Primary Health Care. (2004). Health Canada. Retrieved from http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hcs-sss/prim/index-eng.php Romanow, R. (n.d.). Building on Values: The Future of Health Care in Canada. Collections Canada. Retrieved from http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/webarchives/20071122004429/http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/pdf/romanow/pdfs/hcc_final_report Women's Health Strategy. (n.d.). Health Canada. Retrieved from http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/pubs/_women-femmes/1999-strateg/index-eng.php

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