Breaking the Health Trap for Women in Hesse
Hessen will ensure parity in women's health care access. - Hessen Plans to Achieve Equality in Women's Health Care
Women face numerous health challenges, and the Hessian state parliament is ready to change that narrative. As Nadine Gersberg (SPD) candidly addressed in the state parliament in Wiesbaden, "Society has made it a health trap to be a woman."
In response, the ruling factions—CDU and SPD—submitted a bill aimed at enhancing women's healthcare. With a unanimous vote, this bill focuses on improved prevention, health promotion, and health care for women.
Often, women's ailments and diseases are overlooked or taken lightly, as demonstrated by endometriosis. This chronic disease involves tissue similar to the uterine lining growing outside the uterus, leading to severe pain, digestive disorders, and irregular bleeding (Endometriosis Association Germany).
To combat this ignorance, the bill calls for the dissemination of information about diseases like endometriosis, lipoedema, and osteoporosis, which predominantly affect women. Research indicates that smaller, preventable gynecological diseases in women aged 15-49 cause a substantial burden, outweighing malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV combined. Yet, they receive merely 1% of global research investments (Tagesspiegel).
To address this, the bill encourages more frequent administration of the HPV vaccine, which can protect against cervical cancer and other types of cancer. To facilitate this, the Hessian child health center will invite children, informing them about the HPV vaccine and checking their vaccination status. Vaccination protection significantly reduces the risk of illness.
The training and empowerment of midwives and doctors is also crucial. The state parliament has approved specific investments in the training of midwives to support young mothers, and universities in Gießen, Frankfurt, and Marburg have developed programs to ensure future doctors understand the unique health needs of women. Gender medicine will become mandatory in medical studies and health professions, and first aid courses will include female practice dummies and destigmatize diseases in clinics.
Support for pregnant women extends to enhancing specific offers around pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause. On June 1st, maternal protection after a miscarriage will come into effect nationwide, providing women with a legally guaranteed recovery time from the 13th week of pregnancy.
Improving the supply of abortion services in Hesse is also on the agenda. Critics view this positively, citing the need for accessible and consistent services. However, concerns have been raised that the bill might give the impression that having an abortion is an easy choice, to which adjustments are being considered.
Women's HealthHealthcareEndometriosisMidwivesHesseSPDGermany
[1] Improving access to specialized care for women with endometriosis: a major area for improvement in Germany's healthcare system.[2] Leveraging telehealth and digital platforms for urinary incontinence management in Germany.[3] Strengthening community programs for single mothers: findings from the Sirona Women's Health Center in Germany.[4] Harnessing digital health solutions for healthcare efficiency in Germany.
- The bill, passed unanimously in the Hessian state parliament, emphasizes the dissemination of information about various diseases that predominantly affect women, such as endometriosis, lipoedema, and osteoporosis, recognizing the significant burden they cause, especially in women aged 15-49 (Tagesspiegel).
- Recognizing the importance of vocational training in addressing the unique health needs of women, universities in Gießen, Frankfurt, and Marburg have developed programs to ensure future doctors understand gender medicine, making it mandatory in medical studies and health professions, and including female practice dummies in first aid courses to destigmatize diseases in clinics.
