Access to healthcare and long-term care : equal for women and men? : Final synthesis report

Abstract

While healthcare systems have contributed to significant improvements in health in Europe, access to healthcare remains uneven across countries and social groups, according to socioeconomic status, place of residence, ethnic group, and gender. Gender plays a specific role both in the incidence and prevalence of specific pathologies and also in their treatment and impact in terms of well-being and recovery. This is due to the interrelations between sexrelated biological differences and socioeconomic and cultural factors which affect the behaviour of women and men and their access to services. This comparative report presents the main differences in the health status of women and men in European countries and examines how healthcare and long-term care systems respond to the specific needs of women and men in ensuring equal access. It considers the main financial, cultural and physical barriers to access and provides good practice examples of healthcare promotion, prevention and general treatment programmes, as well as of long-term care. The information in this report is mainly provided by the national experts of the EGGSI network of experts in gender equality, social inclusion, healthcare and longterm care and covers 30 European countries (EU-27 and EEA/EFTA)( 1 ). Available comparative statistical data from Eurostat and OECD sources have also been considered. ; peer-reviewed