Doctors demand gender-sensitive medicine to close long-standing treatment gaps

The Hartmannbund Network of Female Physicians is advocating for gender-sensitive health research and care to become a standard. Experts contend that treating men and women equally in medicine does not always result in fair or effective outcomes. They emphasize long-standing gaps in how drugs and treatments are developed for different genders.

Historically, many medications were tested primarily on male subjects. This has led to differences in how drugs affect women, who often experience more adverse reactions due to variations in biology. Dr. Iris Illing notes that equal treatment does not guarantee the best results for both genders.

Dr. Dr. Galina Fischer emphasizes that women's health encompasses all organ systems, not just reproductive organs. Meanwhile, Dr. Wenke Wichmann calls for a broader approach, integrating biological differences, social factors, and gender-specific risks into medical studies and guidelines.

The network also acknowledges that while cardiovascular research has made progress in gender-specific data, many other areas still lack sufficient knowledge. Their objective is to make gender-sensitive medicine the norm, ensuring that prevention, diagnosis, and treatment account for these differences.

The campaign aims to reshape medical research and practice by incorporating gender-sensitive standards. By addressing biological and social differences, the network seeks to enhance treatment outcomes for all patients. The push for change comes as experts continue to identify gaps in current healthcare approaches.