A damning report by the Women and Equalities Committee has exposed how outdated NHS policies are preventing women from accessing life-changing medications readily available in other European countries.
Systemic Bias in Drug Approvals
The investigation found the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) consistently fails to consider gender-specific needs when approving treatments. This systemic bias means British women wait years longer than their European counterparts for medications addressing conditions like endometriosis and menopause.
Key Findings:
- 17% longer approval times for women-centric medications compared to other drugs
- Only 34% of clinical trial participants are female
- Menopause treatments take 2.4 years longer to reach UK patients than EU markets
MPs Demand Urgent Reform
The cross-party committee has called for immediate changes to the MHRA's approval processes, including mandatory gender impact assessments for all new medications. Chair Caroline Nokes stated: "This isn't just about equality - it's about saving lives. Women are suffering needlessly while bureaucrats drag their feet."
The Department of Health has pledged to review the recommendations, but women's health advocates warn that without legislative changes, the NHS will continue failing female patients.
