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MEPs warn of women’s health ‘blind spot’

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The European Parliament's Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) has backed a Renew Europe-initiated report seeking to address long-standing and systemic gender inequalities in medical research, diagnosis and treatment that continue to affect health outcomes across Europe. Women continue to be underrepresented in medical research and clinical trials. Some 72% of drug trials fail to provide sex- and gender-disaggregated data, while only 5% of global research and development funding is dedicated to women's health. Led by Renew Europe rapporteur MEP Billy Kelleher (Fianna Fáil/Ireland), the report sets out measures to improve women's health outcomes.

It calls for greater investment in women's health research, stronger inclusion of women in clinical trials, and gender-sensitive diagnostics and treatments, particularly in areas such as endometriosis, menopause and cardiovascular disease. MEP Kelleher, First Vice – President of Renew Europe, said: "Women’s health remains one of medicine’s biggest blind spots. When research, clinical trials and medical data fail to reflect women's experiences, the result is poorer diagnosis, treatment and care.’’

The report calls for improved access to sexual and reproductive healthcare, including through follow-up to the successful European Citizens' Initiative "My Voice, My Choice", better support for women's physical and mental health, and high-quality care throughout pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period, free from discrimination. It also highlights the additional barriers to healthcare faced by LGBTQI+ people and women in marginalised communities or vulnerable situations.

"This report is about closing those gaps and ensuring that women’s health is recognised as a core measure of the quality and fairness of our healthcare systems." added MEP Kelleher. By placing women's health higher on the political agenda, the report aims to contribute to the implementation of the EU Gender Equality Strategy and shape future European health policies. A final vote by the European Parliament is expected in September 2026.

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