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Gender Gap in Healthcare

Due to the fact that men and women are not only socially different but biologically different, the way in which women receive treatment for their health is crucial. Women tend to visit the doctor more often than men for a numerous amount of reasons. Women’s reproductive systems are different from those of men and in addition to this, women are the individuals to carry a baby for nine months so the way in which they go about their healthcare is important. Approximately half of Canada’s population consists of females and with this being stated, “Women receive the majority of health care in Canada and are the primary providers of paid and unpaid health care within and outside their households.”

Females tend to receive healthcare through Medicare rather than private health insurance because this means that they will be able to receive health services without having to worry about the bill at hand. “It matters to women if health service costs are covered by public insurance or paid for privately because women, on average, earn less than men and face higher poverty rates.” It is no surprise that the gender gap throughout the world has been prominently shown but the fight for equal protection is one worth fighting for. “So far, from the perspective of Canadian women, who have had little opportunity for input into these sweeping changes, privatization has reduced their incomes and job security, left them with more support to provide at home, and reduced their choices and access to quality care. Health care reform, as currently being implemented, is a problem, not a solution for women.” The need for a health care reform that is tailored to not only men but women is one that needs to be worked towards. Because some women tend to be stay at home moms, and not be employed full-time, access to certain health care attributes are taken away. “However, because women, as a group, are less likely to be employed full-time, they are less likely to have access to uninsured services such as drugs.”

In a recent study it showed the differences among men and women receiving health care in Canada. In certain areas of health care, it showed wait times, pertaining diagnostic tests, and the benefits of insurance differed among men and women. In a recent Canadian study, “Reported mean wait times are significantly lower for men than for women pertaining to overall diagnostic tests: for MRI, 70.3 days for women compared to 29.1 days for men.” With longer wait times means higher risk of health complications which is not essential in handling health care in an effective way. Overall, the improvement of women’s’ healthcare is one that needs to be addressed due to the gender gap within the nation.