A new report by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) indicates that although women across Europe are more proactive in seeking medical care, many believe they receive poorer treatment than men. The findings highlight persistent concerns about gender bias within health systems, despite women tending to live longer and engage in fewer high-risk behaviours.
The report notes that women visit doctors more frequently and are generally more attentive to their health compared with men. Yet 22 per cent of women surveyed believe men receive better treatment from medical professionals. The perception is particularly strong among younger age groups: 28 per cent of girls and young women aged 15 to 24 feel men are treated more favourably, compared with 16 per cent of boys and young men.
According to EIGE researcher Blandine Mollard, many women feel their symptoms are minimised or misunderstood, especially when related to conditions that affect women specifically. Speaking at a press conference, she said women often sense that these issues are overlooked and that gender-based discrimination remains a barrier to fair treatment.
The institute examined how gender shapes a patient’s experience from the moment they seek care to the way they are diagnosed and treated. The findings show that attitudes differ sharply by country. Germany, Croatia, and Sweden report the highest levels of scepticism regarding equal treatment. In Sweden alone, 46 per cent of women and 30 per cent of men believe male patients are favoured.
In contrast, Malta stands out as the country with the strongest perception of equality, with 85 per cent of respondents saying both genders receive the same level of care.
EIGE warns that gender stereotypes in health care have real consequences. When medical staff rely on assumptions rather than symptoms, women may face misdiagnoses or delays in receiving care. Conditions such as heart disease — which can present differently in women — are among those at greater risk of being overlooked when bias is present.
The report also shows that progress on gender equality in health has stalled. Although health remains the most gender-equal of the six domains assessed by the Gender Equality Index, which also reviews work, money, knowledge, time, and power, the overall score has barely improved since 2015 and has not moved since 2020.
Some countries have seen declines. Malta, Croatia, and Romania recorded the most significant setbacks, which EIGE links to the continued strain on health systems and the uneven impact of recent health crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic. The organisation notes that disruptions to care, staffing shortages, and unequal access have widened gaps in several regions.
Despite women’s longer life expectancy, the report stresses that they spend fewer years in good health compared with men — a finding that adds urgency to calls for more equitable treatment across Europe’s health services.
