Alberta’s NDP government is calling for a new “targeted approach” to women’s health but details of what that will mean are sketchy.
In the 2017-20 Health ministry business plan released with the provincial budget, the government says that in many families women have not only their own complex health needs to consider but are also responsible for the health and wellness of their partners, children and parents.
Advertisement 2
Story continues below
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.
Get exclusive access to the Calgary Herald ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.
Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.
Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.
Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.
Get exclusive access to the Calgary Herald ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.
Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.
Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.
Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one account.
Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
“As such, a targeted approach to women’s health is needed – one that supports the interests of all women, at all stages of life, and acknowledges the diversity of women’s experiences including higher incidences of violence and social and economic vulnerabilities,” says the report.
Article content
The government says it will develop the new approach using Alberta’s “Gender Based Analysis Plus approach,” which commits the province to examine all policies to determine whether there are specific impacts on women and to consider other identity factors such as sexual orientation, ethnicity, geography, faith, income, gender identity and gender expression.
The business plan said the new approach “will enhance health equity in care provisions and support equality of health outcomes for all women (Indigenous, seniors, disabled, youth, LGBTQ, new Canadians and rural Albertans) and will go beyond traditional health services.”
In a recent interview, NDP Health Minister Sarah Hoffman had few details to add on what she said is a policy that is still under development.
She said the issue of possible gender-based inequity within the health system is something that needs to be examined.
Advertisement 3
Story continues below
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
“We need to know where it’s at so that we can properly make sure that we’re moving the envelope. I regularly hear from demographics throughout the province that feel that access is difficult for a number of services they receive,” said Hoffman.
The government says that among the areas likely to be looked at as the policy emerges are women’s status as mothers, chronic conditions that have a disproportionate impact on women and women having different pathways towards the same diseases as men.
The gender analysis plus policy is supposed to be applied across government. However, the health ministry is the only department to refer to the approach in its business plan except for the Status of Women, the lead agency on the policy.
Dr. Sue Ross, the Cavarzan Chair in Mature Women’s Health Research at the University of Alberta, will watch how the policy plays out but says it’s potentially “a really useful thing to happen.”
She said the concern is not deliberate inequity within the health system, but instead ensuring that women and men have treatments tailored to their needs.
“With heart disease, women often present with what seems not to be heart symptoms, and therefore they go to the doctor and it’s not always recognized as being indicative of heart problems,” said Ross as an example.
“It’s not because anybody is discriminating, it’s just because they present in a different way.”
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.
This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.