INTERVIEW ON THE PRICE OF BUSINESS SHOW, MEDIA PARTNER OF THIS SITE.
Recently Kevin Price, Host of the nationally syndicated Price of Business Show, welcomed Dr. Ann Hester to provide another commentary in a series.
The Dr. Ann Hester Commentaries
In a recent article, I highlighted the startling findings of the 2024 report by the World Economic Forum and the McKinsey Health Institute. The report highlights a critical but often overlooked issue: the global gender health gap. This disparity is not just a minor inconvenience; it’s a world-shattering problem that demands urgent attention.
Most of us are familiar with the gender pay gap, where women earn less than men for the same work. This disparity is disheartening and frustrating. However, there’s an even more consequential gap: the gender health gap. According to the report, this gap costs women 75 million years of life each year due to poor health and premature death. To put it in perspective, that’s over 39 trillion minutes of life lost annually—minutes that could have been spent with loved ones or simply enjoying life. This issue isn’t confined to developing countries; it’s a worldwide phenomenon.
In wealthy nations like the United States and Canada, there is ample documentation showing that women are often diagnosed with the same diseases later than men and are not offered the same treatments. If the gender pay gap is disheartening, the gender health gap is infuriating. It reveals a deep-seated bias in healthcare—some of it unconscious, some of it deliberate.
When I was in medical school decades ago, it was not uncommon for male doctors to dismiss female patients as “squirrely” or “hysterical.” These concerns were often brushed off. As a medical student, I felt uncomfortable hearing such remarks but naively assumed these doctors were outliers. I couldn’t fathom that professionals dedicated to helping others would downplay the concerns and lives of some while elevating others. It was against everything I believed about the medical profession.
Over the years, I’ve heard similar comments but failed to grasp the immense scale of the gender health gap until recently. I wonder how those dismissive doctors would feel if they had to take their own mothers, wives, or daughters to the emergency room only to find them receiving substandard care.
The report identifies several root causes of this disparity. Historically, medical science has focused on the male body, leading to fewer and potentially less effective treatments for women. Data systems often underestimate women’s health burdens and sometimes exclude or undervalue crucial conditions. Barriers to care are significant, with many women experiencing diagnostic delays and suboptimal treatment. Additionally, there’s been less investment in women’s health, resulting in lagging scientific research.
The report also notes that women spend 25% more of their lives in poor health than men. This equates to an estimated seven days of poor health per woman yearly. This disparity affects not only women but also the global economy. Closing the gender health gap could impact 137 million women working full-time by 2040, potentially adding at least $1 trillion to the worldwide economy.
So, what can we do about this catastrophic disparity? While most of us aren’t designing scientific studies or treating patients, we all have a role to play. We are all connected to women—whether we are women ourselves or born of women.
Self-empowerment is a crucial first step. Educate yourself about health conditions. Ask questions. Be bold and be ‘respectfully assertive’ with healthcare providers when answers are vague. Additionally, focus on preventing, treating, and reversing diseases as much as possible. Accessible medical literature often provides valuable information in easy-to-understand language.
I am launching the World of Women Wellness Warriors initiative to address this profound issue. While not everyone will join this initiative, we can make a difference in our circles. Whatever actions you choose to take, please do something. Together, we can bridge the gender health gap and create a healthier future for all.
Ann M. Hester, M.D. is a board-certified internist with over 25 years of experience. She obtained her medical degree from the University of Tennessee in Memphis. Dr. Hester believes when patients are taught exceptional “patient skills,” they become empowered to play a previously unimagined role in optimizing their medical care and minimizing medical costs. Her mission is to share these critical skills by various means, thereby improving patient outcomes and strengthening the U.S. healthcare system. This mission started in medical school when she witnessed the tremendous gap between how patients and doctors think. Over the years, she has written various patient empowerment pieces online and through books. Her latest book is Patient Empowerment 101: More than a book, it’s an adventure! This unique work takes an unprecedented step in helping people think more like doctors and position themselves at the center of their healthcare team.
Learn more at https://www.patientempowerment101.com.
Connect with her through social media:
Twitter: @patientworldnet
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patientempowerment101
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