MERCÈ ROVIRA. How the European Institute for women s health supports health issues at an EU level

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1 MERCÈ ROVIRA How the European Institute for women s health supports health issues at an EU level

2 Supporting women s health issues at the EU-level M. Mercè Rovira Regàs Board Member European Institute of Women s Health info@eurohealth.ie

3 About the EIWH The European Institute of Women s Health (EIWH) is a health NGO launched in 1996 The EIWH aims to ensure a gender-sensitive approach to health policy, prevention, treatment, care and research in order to reduce health inequalities and improve quality. Organisation: Extensive multi-national, multi-disciplinary network of patient groups, health NGOs, researchers, gender experts, politicians, and medical professionals Expert Advisory Board

4 Defining Women s Health Women s health is more than reproductive health it is health across the life-span. The incidence and prevalence of certain diseases are higher among women. E.g. breast cancer, osteoporosis, auto-immune diseases, eating disorders. Others affect men and women differently. E.g. lung cancer, diabetes, depression, cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease is major killer in older women.

5 Women s Health Matters Gender is a key determinant of health closely linked with socio-economic factors. Socio-economic inequalities adversely affect health. Due to biological differences and varied gender roles, men and women have different health needs and face disparate obstacles and opportunities. Europe has the highest proportion of older women in the world.

6 Europe Population 2030

7 Older Women s Health Europe has the highest proportion of older women in the world: 2/3 of women are over 65 years 80+ age group is mostly female and increasing EU life expectancy: 82 for women, 76 for men The difference in healthy life expectancy is 18 months EU 2020 strategy calls for increasing healthy life expectancy by 2 years

8 Promoting Active and Healthy Ageing Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations Innovation Partnership on Active Healthy Ageing, Europe 2020 strategy EY2012 Manifesto for Age-Friendly European Union Presentations Improving Cancer Care in Older People, EP, January 2012 The Prevention of Age-Related Disease of Women, EP, June 2012 What s Age Got To Do with It? Active and Healthy Ageing, Vienna, June 2012 Women s Health and Healthy Ageing, Copenhagen, June 2012 Updated Women s Older Health Report (Autumn 2013)

9 Policy Briefings Generating regular policy briefings: PBs are concise, written in plain English. They raise health literacy levels and increase awareness at national and EU levels. They describe how gender impacts various chronic diseases and include policy recommendations in order to educate policymakers, stakeholders, and EU citizens. PBs have been written on diabetes, lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, asthma, smoking, alcohol. More PBs will be generated on various topics including but not limited to Alzheimer s disease, arthritis, breast cancer, depression, HIV/AIDS, Lupus, obesity and osteoporosis.

10 Chronic Disease Chronic disease is the top cause of illness and death in the EU. With ageing populations and changes in lifestyle, chronic disease will increasingly affect the EU and its citizens. Gender impacts on susceptibility, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of chronic disease. Healthcare systems must better respond to the different gender needs.

11 Chronic disease burden Deaths by cause, women in Europe, latest available year Lung cancer 2% Breast cancer 3% Other cancer Colorectal 9% cancer Stomach cancer 2% 1% Respiratory disease 6% Injuries and poisoning 5% Other CVD 15% All other causes 18% Coronary heart death 22% Stroke 17%

12 Osteoporosis Osteoporosis is the silent epidemic in the EU. Osteoporosis rarely displays symptoms. Osteoporosis is more common in women than men and the burden of care disproportionately affects women. 9/10 hip fractures occur in 80% of older women. Within the first year after a hip fracture, about 20-24% of patients ages 65+ die from complications. Hip fractures are costly to treat, often causing disability, annually, costing the EU over 36 billion in medical costs.

13 Other Chronic Disease Activities Promoting a Cervical Cancer Prevention Strategy for Europe Roundtable 6 June 2012, European Week Against Cancer Co-chairs Nessa Childers, MEP and Alojz Peterle, MEP 2013 Irish Presidency Official Conference for the European Week Against Cancer 2013 on health lifestyles and tobacco control May 31 st 2013, Dublin, Workshop Mind the Gender Gap Smoking and Drinking in Women and Young Girls NCD (Non Communicable Disease) Alliance Joint Action on Chronic Diseases

14 Clinical Trials It is integral that women are included in clinical trials: Women take more medicines than men. Women have more ADR (Adverse Drug reaction) even when adjusted. 2/3 of those over 65 years and most over 80 are female. The statistically significant under-representation of women in clinical trials needs to be corrected. The Clinical Trials Regulation is an opportunity to ensure that women are properly enrolled in clinical trials throughout drug development.

15 Clinical Trials Regulation The EIWH urges that the new regulation: 1.Ensures a better gender balance in clinical studies, to reflect the patient population that are intended to receive the treatment; 2.Makes inclusion of women in clinical trials explicit and the numbers included statistically relevant to allow for systematic analysis of sex difference; and 3.Since for women, physiological changes and hormonal levels during childbearing years and menopause, may affect the efficacy and safety of a drug, ensures these influences are studied during drug development.

16 Smoking and Women Smoking is the single most important preventable cause of death Mind the Gender Gap- Smoking and Drinking in Women and Young Girls Kills half of the regular smokers 12% of all female death between years Death rates reflect the trend of women taking up smoking 20 to 30 years ago Full impact on women s health still to come Major risk factor for many chronic diseases including osteoporosis

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18 Tobacco Products Directive Revision of the Tobacco Products Directive released at the end of Mind the Gender Gap- Smoking and Drinking in Women and Young Girls Includes provisions on: Labeling and Packaging Ingredients Smokeless tobacco Cross border distance sales Illicit trade

19 Researches gender-based inequities in health Co-funded by the European Commission Coordinated by the Karolinska Institute and comprised of 9 partners who are experts in research, public health, gender and health policy Resulted in: 6 Policy briefings Database on best practice Network of experts The ENGENDER Project Project Roundtable Launch: 18 October 2011; co-chairs Edite Estrela, MEP and Sean Kelly, MEP

20 Other Activities Promoting Gender Equity International Women s Day European Gender Summit Health Literacy European Patients Forum Workshop on Health Literacy Genset Manifesto The European Charter for Health Equity isac6+ Project

21 isac6+ Project (DB search engine)

22 EIWH Representation The European Cancer Partnership Various European Commission Expert Advisory Groups such as Ageing and Disability Expert group in the European Commission s Women in Science Unit European Public Health Alliance, member of Policy Co-ordination Group European Patients Forum, member of Policy committee EFPIA Patient/Industry think tank EU Fundamental Rights Agency, NGO Platform EY2012 Coalition EIP on Active and Healthy Ageing Action Group on Falls Prevention, Strategic Implementation Plan of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP AHA) Action A2 Advisory Board of EUROmediCAT Member of Ethics Board of EHR4CR Member of the Advisory group MHE-Europe: Daphne Project Train, Improve, Reduce

23 International Catalunya Award The Prize gives recognition to the work of those individuals who have contributed to the development of cultural, scientific and humane values around the world. The award consists of a fund of 80,000 and a work of art.