Transforming women’s health: a bold roadmap to a more equitable future

Equity lies at the heart of progress, demanding a healthcare system that not only provides affordability and accessibility but also centres the distinctive needs of women.

The deliberate inequities affecting Black, Indigenous, and Latinx women, transgender women, those in rural communities, women with disabilities and those with low incomes underscore the urgent need for transformative change.

From alarming maternal mortality rates among Black and Indigenous women to abortion bans, limited healthcare access in rural areas, discriminatory practices against women with disabilities and stigmatisation faced by Black, immigrant, and transgender women, these inequities demand a comprehensive reimagining of our healthcare system.

A robust, truly transformative healthcare system is the cornerstone of a thriving society and it is time for the nation to prioritise women’s health.

Expanding Medicaid in the ten remaining states and extending postpartum coverage to 12 months in every state are crucial steps in dismantling barriers that impede women’s health.

Additionally, improving Black maternal health outcomes and the preservation and enhancement of reproductive rights, which encompasses unfettered access to abortion care, comprehensive family planning services and contraceptives, form other vital pillars.

Improving Black maternal health outcomes

Maternal health remains a significant concern, particularly among Black women. Passing the federal Black Maternal Health Momnibus, introduced by Rep. Underwood and Sen. Booker, can help address inequities and promote access to quality maternal care.

In addition to passing the Momnibus, it’s time for the US to invest in an ethical supply chain to ensure the improvement of necessary pre- and postpartum drug delivery. By guaranteeing the consistent availability of essential medications, we can enhance the overall quality of care.

Power and control over women’s bodies

Every woman should have the autonomy to make informed decisions about her body and reproductive health.

Policies that fail to centre marginalised communities perpetuate existing power imbalances and exacerbate health disparities. Not only is it time to pass the federal Women’s Health Protection Act to re-establish a national right to abortion to create a just healthcare system for women, but it is likewise vital to implement policies that monitor and account for the funding and actions of crisis pregnancy centres  and anti-abortion maternity homes.

These often-unregulated places disseminate misleading information about abortion care, manipulate women and can come with deeply conservative ideologies, such as mandatory church service attendance in exchange for shelter and additional restrictions on reproductive choice.

Building a better healthcare system means we closely monitor and regulate crisis pregnancy centres and maternity homes, ensuring they provide comprehensive, unbiased, and evidence-based information and care to women without imposing ideological beliefs.

It is also essential to note that anti-abortionists are swiftly rolling out policies that would even prevent women from travelling on highways to access abortion services.

These predatory webs of restrictions to deprive us of our freedom are not merely about abortion rights; this is about who has power over you, who has the authority to make decisions for you and who is going to control how your future is going to be.

Therefore, to build a better healthcare system for women, we must fiercely defend abortion rights and dismantle any barriers that may obstruct women’s ability to make choices about their bodies and reproductive health.

We must give women back the power to control their own bodies, especially for those most impacted who have the least resources, who can’t afford to lose a job, who don’t have access to childcare, who have no access to healthcare and who face many more systemic barriers.

Transparency in healthcare decision-making processes is also vital. This extends to hospital ethics committees, which often make critical decisions about abortion access, but whose membership is often shrouded in secrecy.

For a more just healthcare system, we must eradicate this wall of secrecy and ensure transparency in these committees’ composition and decision-making process.

Women deserve to know that their healthcare decisions are made with impartiality and respect for their rights.

Protecting gender-affirming care

Gender-affirming care for transwomen is a critical component of comprehensive healthcare.

This specialised care involves a range of medical, psychological, and social interventions to align an individual’s physical characteristics with their gender identity. Key elements may include hormone therapy, gender confirmation surgery, mental health support, and ongoing medical monitoring.

Gender-affirming care is not only a matter of medical necessity for transwomen but is also closely tied to mental health, overall wellbeing, and a sense of self.

Creating a healthcare environment that offers inclusive, affordable, and accessible services for transwomen is essential to a holistic approach that acknowledges and validates their gender identity, ultimately contributing to better health outcomes and improved quality of life.

Kavelle Christie is the director of the gender equity and health justice program at Community Catalyst, a national health advocacy organisation that works alongside organisational partners across 45 states and territories to build people power and create a health system rooted in race equity and health justice.