Call for Significant Investment in Women’s Health Data by Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada

The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) has urged the federal government to allocate substantial funds in Budget 2025 to tackle existing gaps and misinformation surrounding women’s health. This initiative is aimed at enhancing women’s health care services across the nation.

Funding Proposals to Address Data Gaps

In its pre-budget submission, the SOGC presented five key recommendations for government consideration. Central to these suggestions is a proposed investment of $20 million dedicated to creating a National Women’s Health Data Dashboard. This dashboard is envisioned as a standardized and disaggregated database designed to yield valuable insights into critical women’s health indicators.

• Maternal mortality and morbidity
• Stillbirth and perinatal loss
• Menopause
• Endometriosis

The SOGC asserts that a robust data dashboard will empower patients to make informed health decisions while enabling healthcare providers to deliver equitable and responsive care. Additionally, they argue that addressing these data gaps can lead to economic benefits by reducing healthcare costs and increasing productivity.

Current State of Health Data Collection

At present, the responsibility for health data collection rests with provincial and territorial governments, and methods can differ significantly across regions. The SOGC contends that the federal government must take a leading role in harmonizing and standardizing this data collection process. The organization stresses that only through coordinated national efforts can Canada ensure the creation of a reliable and actionable health data infrastructure.

“Without co-ordinated, federally driven health data infrastructure, Canada will continue to miss emerging health trends,” stated an SOGC representative. This lack of coordination undermines efforts to reduce healthcare costs and support women facing health challenges that impact their economic participation.

Political Commitment to Women’s Health

This recommendation aligns with commitments made by Prime Minister Mark Carney during his election campaign to protect women’s rights in Canada, including investments to bolster data collection addressing gaps in women’s healthcare. While the Liberal Party has vocalized its dedication to improving women’s health research and sexual and reproductive healthcare, detailed financial allocations for these initiatives remain unspecified.

The Case for Increased Research Funding

Historically, women’s health issues have been sidelined in research, largely due to historical gender inequality in scientific studies. Recent research has shown a doubling in the rate of health studies mentioning sex, gender, and LGBTQ2S+ populations; however, this still constitutes under 10% of total funded research. Over a three-year period from 2020 to 2023, research specifically focused on women’s health has stagnated at around 7% of all studies, predominantly concentrating on conditions like cancers and pregnancy.

“More efforts and support beyond sex and gender mandates are needed to increase funding for and to diversify female-specific research,” argues researchers in the field. This calls for a broader investigation into various health factors affecting women, which is fundamental to advancing personalized medicine.

Combatting Misinformation

The shortage of focused research has led to considerable misinformation regarding women’s health among Canadians. A report released by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) revealed a growing trend of Canadians turning to online platforms for health information, with women more likely than men to utilize social media. The complexity of women’s health issues, including conditions such as endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), necessitates accurate information to help address dismissive attitudes towards women’s pain and symptoms.

• 83% of Canadians are unaware that 30% of women have severe menstrual periods.
• Only 20% understand that heart disease is deadlier to women than to men each year.

This gap in awareness underscores the urgency of reallocating resources towards effective research and education in women’s health, according to various foundations across Canada.

In summary, expanding and standardizing the collection of women’s health data is critical for the advancement of healthcare policies and practices. As Canada gears up for Budget 2025, the call from SOGC emphasizes the need for tangible commitments and financial support to bridge existing gaps, ultimately ensuring equitable health care for all women.