Last month, Chamber and 50:50 Parliament hosted a ‘Welcome to Parliament’ event for newly elected MPs, focusing on women’s health. Several MPs, health professionals, and campaigners highlighted the current issues surrounding women’s health and the urgent need to address them. This event was kindly sponsored by Bayer, a leader in both pharmaceuticals and agricultural solutions, which has a long-standing commitment to improving women’s health through innovation and advocacy.
In her keynote speech at the “Welcome to Parliament – Prioritising Women’s Health” event, Dr Christine Ekechi, Co-Chair of the Race Equality Taskforce at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, addressed the realities of women’s healthcare in the UK.
Dr Ekechi’s experiences underscore the urgent need to address systemic disparities in healthcare, highlighting the critical gaps that exist in the current system. She emphasised the importance of recognising that women’s health extends beyond maternity and gynaecology, encompassing a broad range of issues that are often overlooked in policy discussions.
The Reality of Disparities in Care
Dr Ekechi pointed out that disparities in healthcare are not limited to race and ethnicity, although these are significant.
The inequalities manifest in various forms, including socio-economic status and access to private healthcare. The ability to “skip the queue” through private means, as Dr Ekechi noted from her own practice, illustrates how access to timely care is often a matter of financial capability rather than need.
This disparity is particularly stark in the context of gynaecology, where waiting lists are long, and elective surgeries are frequently postponed, often because women’s health services are the first to face cuts when resources are strained.
The Importance of Representation and Voice
One of the key themes of Dr Ekechi’s speech was the importance of representation in decision-making processes. She argued that having the right people in the room—those with direct experience and understanding of the issues—is essential for effective policy-making. This means ensuring that women, particularly those who are healthcare providers and experts, are included in these conversations.
Dr Ekechi highlighted how often the voices of those most knowledgeable about the problems are absent from the rooms where crucial decisions are made, leading to policies that fail to address the real issues.
Holistic Approaches to Women’s Health
Dr Ekechi called for a holistic approach to women’s health that goes beyond the traditional focus on maternity and reproductive issues. She stressed that women’s health should not be narrowly defined by these categories but should include a broader view that considers environmental factors, housing, and economic inequalities, such as the gender pay gap.
This holistic view is crucial for addressing conditions that are often neglected, such as heavy menstrual bleeding and fibroids, which, despite being prevalent, do not receive the same attention as other conditions like endometriosis and menopause.
The Role of Data and Policy
Data was another critical area discussed by Dr Ekechi. While data collection and analysis are often championed as solutions, she pointed out that without the right questions being asked, the data can lead to misguided policies. Effective use of data requires understanding what issues need to be addressed and ensuring that the data collected is relevant and actionable.
This further underscores the need for expert voices in the policy-making process to guide the collection and interpretation of data in ways that truly benefit women’s health.
Final Thought
Dr Ekechi concluded her speech with a call to action. She urged the audience not only to focus on representation but also to push for meaningful change. The presence of women in Parliament is a positive step, but as Dr Ekechi wisely noted, simply being a woman is not enough.
What is crucial is that these women, along with their male counterparts, work towards advancing an agenda that genuinely prioritises women’s health. This requires collaboration, a commitment to integrity, and a willingness to challenge the status quo.
As Dr Ekechi put it, the goal must be to create a healthier and fairer society for all.
Bayer has provided sponsorship funding, which supported logistics and materials for this event. Chamber maintained complete editorial control for the event and outputs.
To watch the full video of Dr Ekechi’s speech, please click below. To read the other keynote speeches from the event, please click here.