ADVOCACY & POLICY ADVICE
Women and Health Reform Working Group Report
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PROGRAMS & SERVICES: ADVOCACY & POLICY ADVICE Women and Health Reform Working Group Report |
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Conclusions Health reform is of critical interest to women in the province. The outreach pilot project demonstrated that women are willing to participate in the reform process providing they have adequate information on how to become involved in the process, and what to expect from their involvement. Education and communication are critical to the success of regionalisation and health reform, particularly in the area of community needs assessment. Without an informed health consumer group, people have no knowledge base from which to assess alternatives to the existing system. It is human nature to cling to the familiar. Unless those affected by health reform have an appreciation of the options and opportunities, they will not be supportive of change. Therefore it is imperative that the RHAs recognize that educating their public is as important as proceeding with changes to the health system. It is also critical that the RHAs recognize that gender sensitivity is essential to developing a system that will equitably serve a group that represents more than half of the population. Due to a variety of social and economic reasons, women's specific health concerns have not been given equal standing within the health system. By virtue of women's physiology, life experience and role as primary caregiver, gender must be factored into decisions, policies and programs concerning health. Since the beginning of 1996, the Women and Health Reform Working Group has gained a breadth of knowledge about women and health reform. It has established an extensive network of contacts both within the health professional group and women consumers. It has gained expertise in facilitating community-based women's health interest groups. The WHRWG offers to those in decision-making positions within the health system a useful resource for developing contacts with those interested in women's health issues and a ready sounding-board for ideas to facilitate women's involvement in the health reform process. |
Women's Health Clinic * Women's Health Clinic * Women's Health Clinic * Women's Health Clinic * Women's Health Clinic * Women's Health Clinic
