Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) September 23, 2026 – The European Parliament has adopted a comprehensive report addressing pervasive gender inequalities in healthcare, calling for mandatory gender-sensitive medical research, dedicated EU funding, and enhanced clinical trial representation for women. Passed by 390 votes to 218, the initiative seeks to dismantle long-standing diagnostic and treatment disparities across member states.
Legislative Action and Voting Outcomes
The European Parliament formally endorsed the legislative report compiled by the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality during its plenary session. The initiative—spearheaded by Renew Europe rapporteur Billy Kelleher, an Irish Member of the European Parliament representing Fianna Fáil—secured a decisive majority, with 390 votes in favour, 218 against, and 29 abstentions, against an overall attendance rate of 88.8 percent.
The vote reflects a coordinated political push from multiple parliamentary groupings. The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), the Renew Europe group, and the Greens/EFA bloc voted uniformly in support of the resolution. Conversely, opposition emerged primarily from conservative and right-wing blocs, alongside a nearly even split within the European People’s Party (EPP), which ultimately resulted in a plurality of its members voting against the text.
Addressing Systemic Gaps in Medical Research and Data
At the core of the newly adopted resolution is the finding that mainstream medical research has historically been structured primarily around the male body. According to data highlighted within the parliamentary text, approximately 72 percent of drug trial studies still fail to report data disaggregated by sex and gender. Furthermore, global research and development funding allocated specifically to women’s health stood at just 5 percent in 2020.
To counteract these disparities, the European Parliament is urging the European Commission and member states to enforce mandatory gender-sensitive research designs across all publicly and privately funded clinical investigations. This includes expanding the systematic inclusion of women—including pregnant and breastfeeding individuals—in clinical trials, improving sex-disaggregated data collection within the European Health Data Space, and providing specialized training for healthcare professionals.
Economic Projections and Targeted Healthcare Priorities
Proponents of the strategy emphasized both the humanitarian and economic imperatives of addressing these shortcomings. Citing economic projections, lawmakers noted that closing the investment gap in women’s healthcare could contribute up to $1 trillion annually to the global economy by the year 2040.
The report explicitly identifies several gender-specific and under-researched medical conditions requiring targeted funding through EU instruments such as Horizon Europe and the European Competitiveness Fund:
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Endometriosis
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Menopause symptoms
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Cardiovascular disease
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Migraines and chronic pain disorders
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Infertility
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Osteoporosis and diabetes
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Mental health conditions
Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
In addition to clinical research reforms, the text reinforces Parliament’s stance on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). The resolution extends formal support to the European Citizens’ Initiative titled “My Voice, My Choice” and reiterates previous calls advocating for safe, legal, and accessible abortion access to be integrated into the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
The framework also condemns systemic practices deemed harmful or violent, including forced sterilization, forced abortion, denial of legally protected abortion care, intersex genital mutilation, and obstetric and gynaecological violence. Additionally, it outlines measures to eliminate healthcare barriers experienced by LGBTQI+ individuals and women residing in marginalized or vulnerable socioeconomic situations.
Next Steps for European Health Policy
Following the plenary vote, the text serves as a formal directive to the European Commission to draft a dedicated, comprehensive EU women’s health strategy. This strategy is expected to incorporate transparent, measurable indicators, continuous monitoring frameworks, and ring-fenced budgetary allocations to ensure accountability across member states.
