The female body functions differently from the male body, often leading to overlooked symptoms in women or treatments more suited to men.
Over the coming years, €12 million will be invested in gender-specific healthcare. As Minister Edith Schippers emphasized: 'We know differences exist, but far too little about their causes and consequences.' This research promises to elevate care quality and women's quality of life.
Key Differences Between Men and Women in Healthcare
- Symptoms in women are often described as 'atypical' in physician guidelines.
- Women are 60 percent more likely to experience side effects from drugs than men.
- Women are 50 to 70 percent more likely to be hospitalized as a result of a side effect of medication.
- In 8 out of 10 drugs that are withdrawn from the market in the US because of health risks, side effects in women were the cause.
- A heart attack is often not recognized in women.
- Total health care costs for women are higher than for men.
