Breaking Barriers: How collaboration can address inequalities in women’s health

The inequalities and stigma around women’s health are still major issues that require collective effort. From the healthcare industry and media to policymakers, patient groups, and community organisations –everyone has a role to play. At Lexington’s recent webinar, Breaking Barriers, Driving Change, experts from these sectors came together to dive into the challenges and explore how working together can create real, lasting change.

The reality of inequality in women’s health

Women's health has long been underrepresented and, as a result, misunderstood. So, it is hardly surprising that according to the World Economic Forum and McKinsey Health Institute , women spend 25% more of their lives in poor health than men. This disparity is seen in everything from clinical trials that exclude women to delayed diagnoses of serious conditions like endometriosis and heart failure.

Dr. Katie Armstrong, NHS GP, menopause specialist and founder of Clinic51 , with over 25 years of experience spoke openly about these barriers. Reflecting on her experience, she shared, “As the women’s health expert in my GP practice, I completely missed my own early menopause. It made me realise how little we’re taught about menopause, even as doctors, and how much women are left in the dark when it comes to their own health.”

Her story highlights a widespread problem—systemic neglect in women’s healthcare. Dr. Armstrong added, “Women often aren't heard, they aren't seen, and their concerns are dismissed. Whether it’s in pregnancy, fertility treatments, or menopause, they’re not getting the support they need.” The healthcare system, she pointed out, is often reactive, leaving women with long-term health struggles and frustration.

The data is equally sobering. Recent research commissioned by Lexington found that 60% of women across the UK, US, and Germany are concerned about unequal access to healthcare, and 38% avoid seeking medical help out of fear of judgment or embarrassment.

Mental health: a cultural and systemic issue

Neelam Heera - Shergill , founder of Cysters, a charity supporting women of colour dealing with menstrual, maternal, and mental health issues, highlighted cultural barriers when it comes to mental health: “There’s no word in Punjabi for mental health, so people aren’t able to articulate how they were feeling,” - highlighting the need for more culturally sensitive approaches to care.

Jennifer Savin , Features Editor at Cosmopolitan added that mental health services are overstretched: “At the end of every article, I’m signposting people to resources, and I know they’re all so overstretched.” Despite the introduction of the NHS Women’s Health Strategy, which aims to address these gaps, Neelam pointed out, “The health hubs don’t have the funding to collaborate with those on the ground.” It is clear that while progress is being made, there’s still much more to do.

The role of media in shaping the narrative

The media plays a crucial role in addressing inequalities by raising awareness and shaping public perception. Jenni shared that many young women feel gaslit by the healthcare system. “Every day, my inbox is filled with women telling me stories of being told their severe period pain is ‘normal’ or being dismissed when they express concerns about fertility or reproductive health. These issues aren’t new, but they’re not being adequately addressed by the system.”

Outlining how the media can amplify the voices of women who feel silenced, Jenni said: “What we do is put a human face on the statistics. When you tell the personal stories of women who waited 10 years for an endometriosis diagnosis or had their pain ignored, it moves people to care, and caring is the first step toward change.” However, she acknowledged the challenges, saying, “It’s tough to keep these stories on the front page when women’s health issues often fall out of the news cycle. We need continuous coverage, not just during awareness months.”

Overcoming cultural barriers

For women of colour and those from marginalized communities, the situation is even more complex. Neelam spoke about the cultural stigmas many women face: “In my community, conditions like endometriosis or PCOS are often seen as shameful. I was told not to talk about my own health issues because it might affect my chances of getting married. This is the reality for so many women who suffer in silence.”

She highlighted that healthcare systems often overlook the cultural and religious needs of women from diverse backgrounds. “We need personalised care that understands our communities. It’s not enough to translate a leaflet into different languages; we need healthcare providers who understand the cultural context and challenges that women from marginalized groups face.”

Neelam also expressed a powerful hope—that one day her charity won’t need to exist. “There’s no pride in running a charity that tackles basic needs like period poverty. These are things that shouldn’t even be an issue, and no one should have to rely on charity for something so essential. Instead of just talking about the problem or offering quick fixes, we need to listen to those affected and work together to tackle the root causes.”

How the healthcare industry can drive change

The healthcare industry plays a crucial role in addressing these disparities. The first step is acknowledging that one-size-fits-all approaches don’t work. Dr. Armstrong said, “We need to focus on empowering women with the knowledge and tools they need to manage their health. That means creating educational resources that meet women where they are and reforming the way healthcare professionals are trained.”

In addition to improving education, the healthcare industry must collaborate with grassroots organisations and community advocates. “Real change happens on the ground. Companies need to partner with organisations who are already embedded in the communities and can offer insights into the real barriers that women face.”

MedTech and pharma companies also have a unique opportunity to be part of the solution. By investing in technologies that help women understand their bodies—whether through apps that track menstrual cycles or innovations in menopause care—these industries can empower women to take charge of their health. “Don’t come with a solution looking for a problem,” Dr Armstrong said. “Understand the issue first, then develop tools that actually address women’s needs.”

A call for continuous collaboration

The path forward requires a fundamental shift in how healthcare, media, and community organisations collaborate. We need sustained efforts, not token gestures. As Neelam emphasised, “If we want to make lasting change, we need collaboration, not just during awareness months, but all year round.”

The women’s health sector is very siloed, with everyone working in their own areas but Neelam believes that “if we all came together, we could move forward much quicker.” She stressed the need to shift the narrative from trauma to empowerment, saying, “It’s about flipping the narrative—from focusing on trauma to taking ownership and changing the conversation. This won’t look the same for everyone, but we need to lead with that shift.”

“We need to work with the NHS on service development.” said Dr. Armstrong, “From funding pilot programs to supporting education, particularly for healthcare professionals, because we know that’s a real issue.”

In addressing the inequalities and stigma in women’s health, we must move beyond conversations and take action. The healthcare industry has the resources, the media has the platform, and communities have the insights. By working together, we can build a future where women no longer face barriers to the care they deserve. This isn’t just about treating symptoms; it’s about treating women with the respect and care they have been denied for too long. Now is the time for the healthcare industry to support grassroots efforts, and play an active role in dismantling the inequalities in women’s health.