Health insurance for women is a basic human right. For yet another World’s Women Report under the UN Forum on Women, we examine the linkages between women’s health and gender equality with the overarching goal of promoting social inclusion and gender equality. We identify the goals of health insurance for women, discuss the different types of programs, and recommend key components of each to ensure their sustainability. The right to health has been interpreted by the World Health Organization as the right of all people, not just the wealthy, to have a life that is not just free from disease but one that is also productive and well supported. To achieve this goal, there should be paid special attention to women’s needs.
In pursuit of gender equality, health insurance is a prerequisite for women to enjoy a full range of civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights – both now and in the future. Health insurance is a basic human right for all individuals to have access to affordable quality health care services. Women’s access to healthcare is critical to enabling them to make decisions about their bodies, lives, and families including having children; controlling their fertility; preventing and treating reproductive tract infections affecting them severely. The physical, mental, and social well-being of women is of particular concern particularly in less developed countries where women are disproportionately affected by poverty and have limited access to health education, health services, and basic infrastructure which affects not only their fertility but also the health of their families.
When thinking about gender-related development issues, it is essential to understand the underlying structures that create inequalities between men and women. The empowerment of women is the ability of women to make decisions and take actions to improve their lives. It is closely linked to health issues, as women are more likely than men to suffer from gender-related health problems such as poor mental health, sexually transmitted infections, reproductive cancers, or nutritional deficiency diseases in all parts of the world. Women’s empowerment covers a wide range of issues including security, rights, health, education, and employment. Increasing women’s empowerment is critical for realizing many of the U.N. Millennium Development Goals. Women (and girls) are more vulnerable to poor health outcomes including those from HIV/AIDS, malaria, and maternal mortality.