"When it comes to health, it matters whether you are man or a woman," says Patricia Roy, Chairperson of the Prince Edward Island Advisory Council on the Status of Women. That is the key message expressed in the Women’s Health Policy Guide released by the Advisory Council today.
"As the most frequent consumers and providers of health care, women have a unique interaction with the province’s health care system," explains Ms. Roy. "That is why we chose to consult Island women on this issue, conduct research, and make recommendations for change to the Province of PEI. This is especially critical, given the current discussions around the future of health care in Canada."
"We are talking about a new way of looking at health care in P.E.I. A way that acknowledges that men’s lives and women’s lives are different and, therefore, their health care needs are different. And, we are not just talking about reproductive care. In fact, we left that matter out of the current discussion. We are talking about basic life circumstances and what they mean for the health of Island women," Ms. Roy elaborates.
During consultations, the Advisory Council learned that there were two major health-related concerns for Island women: 1) Women’s life circumstances as caretakers make their views on health issues and their health care needs unique to their gender, and 2) women take a broad view of health and they want their health care providers to serve them accordingly.
"Women are the caretakers of society," says Ms. Roy. "They are the majority of the health care workers and single parents. They are the ones who take responsibility for the whole family’s health and they are the ones who typically care for family members experiencing illness or disability. They are doing more than their fair share in caring for the Island’s health needs. It is reasonable to ask whether they are getting a fair return for their contributions and whether they exert enough decision-making power in the system."
Research gathered by the Advisory Council shows that single women who are raising children on low incomes most likely are in poor health or have significant health problems. It also shows that the numbers of working mothers in two-parent families who feel extreme time stress are increasing. Women have borne the burden of health care cuts that have shifted care from institutions to communities and homes.
"As a society, we need to address these inequities," says Chairperson Roy. "We need women-focused health care that recognizes the realities of women’s lives. To support such a service, the Province must commit to leadership development for women so that they can fully participate in the numerous boards that govern our health care system. We need local, women-specific health research that informs our system. And, we need a commitment to gender-based analysis that asks questions about the effects of policy changes on women and men."
To move towards women-focused health service, Council has made these recommendations for change:
• Increase the allotment of funds for direct payment to social service recipients to bring them up to a standard of living in which all basic needs are met.
• Increase the minimum wage so that Island women and men can earn adequate incomes.
• Conduct a formal review of caregiving in this province that provides qualitative information regarding caregivers’ experiences and quantitative information on their actual contributions. Generate an action plan to provide tangible assistance to caregivers.
• Provide salaries to all general practitioners.
• Conduct a supply and demand analysis for training and recruitment of Island women physicians that examines what supports and working conditions they require in order to practise in this province.
• Create and implement a gender-specific recruitment strategy, designed to attract and retain women physicians.
• Broaden the health care services and professional categories covered by health insurance plans to provide adequate and non-discriminatory funding to complementary health care practitioners.
• Provide appropriate, women-specific mental health programming.
• Establish a system of equal gender representation on the Island’s regional health boards and actively support women’s leadership development.
• Establish links with the Atlantic Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health Research, making certain that research results are available to Island women, that Island women contribute to the research, and that research results influence policy and planning.
• Develop a gender analysis model to guide all policy decisions.
• Provide appropriate recognition and financial compensation for women health professionals who assume increased responsibility within a collaborative health service delivery model.
• Support the regional health boards in the establishment of women’s health centres that offer holistic services in ways that are appropriate for women.
The PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women serves as a provincial government advisory agency dedicated to equality and supporting women’s full and active participation in social, legal, cultural, economic and political spheres of life. To work towards this goal, the Advisory Council engages in a wide variety of activities which help to monitor issues that concern women and to develop public awareness about issues affecting the status of women. As well, the Advisory Council’s mandate includes recommending legislation, policies, and practises to promote equal opportunity for women and to improve the status of women.
Contact: Patricia Roy
Chairperson
Heidi Rankin
Director
368-4510