QUESTION PERIOD — Health
Health Care for Women
October 2, 2025
Senator Moreau, next week, the IWK Foundation in Halifax will be releasing the results of a health survey of women aged 18 or older in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
The survey gathered women’s experience in health care across the Maritimes, aiming to illustrate the gendered gaps in our health care system which put women at a disadvantage. For example, according to Women’s Health Collective Canada, 70% of patients with medically unexplained symptoms are women. With an outpouring of responses from women across the Maritimes, this survey is a call to action.
Has the government been made aware of this survey, and is there any intention to begin better addressing the health care needs of women in Canada?
Before I answer this question, Senator Ross, I promised to come back to your question from yesterday. I have been informed that the second round of major projects will be unveiled in November.
Regarding today’s question, I will certainly bring this study to the minister’s attention. This government will always fight for true equity for women when it comes to their health and access to fundamental rights.
The government is committed to working with provincial and territorial partners to improve and increase data collection and sharing to ensure that women do not face these health gaps anywhere in the country. Unfortunately, too many health care issues that primarily impact women are under-researched and underserved, which means women face challenges in receiving the care and treatment they need. I will bring your suggestion to the attention of the minister.
To follow up on that, while over half the population identifies as women, only 6.8% of national research funding goes specifically to women’s health.
There are so many health conditions that disproportionately impact women, like endometriosis and postpartum depression, yet research is scarce. In the budget being tabled on November 4, will the government commit funds to address the considerable gap in research funding centred on women’s health?
As I said to your colleague earlier, I cannot comment on what may be included in the budget.
I can say that the government is aware of the need to invest in and increase collection of data to help address women’s health gaps in Canada, particularly in the understudied areas of menopause, endometriosis, maternal mortality and morbidity, stillbirths and maternal health generally.
As I said, the government is committed to working with provincial and territorial partners to address these women’s health issues.
