Gender and Health: The case for gender-sensitive health policy and health care delivery

There is growing national and international recognition that gender is an important indicator of health differences. The United Kingdom is in danger of falling behind many other countries that are beginning to recognise the crucial importance of gender to the development of effective health policy and practice. This briefing paper sets out some of the reasons why those involved in the gender and health partnership (GAHP) believe that it is time to place gender at the heart of the equalities agenda in health, and why it is important to ensure gender sensitivity in health policy, medical research and services. This briefing paper refers to the United Kingdom; however, Scotland is in the process of producing guidelines specifically on mainstreaming gender in health policy and service delivery.