Message from the IPRA President: Gender Bias in Healthcare April 2025
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2 weeks, 6 days ago
Dear friends and colleagues,
As we continue our shared mission to promote ethical and effective communication around the world, I want to take a moment to address a specific and often overlooked issue: gender bias in healthcare.
A chronic problem
Current estimates suggest it will take 134 years to achieve full gender parity. But what is less acknowledged is that many of the systems we rely on such as healthcare are simply not designed for women. As highlighted by Dr. Nigina Muntean of the UN Population Fund:
- Only 22% of clinical trials include women in their design, leading to four times more adverse reactions in women to commonly used medications;
- Women are significantly more likely to be seriously injured in car crashes, as crash tests are based on male anatomy;
- AI, which increasingly shapes our daily decisions, is 80% more likely to produce errors when assessing women, because the data it learns from is inherently biased.
These are not just oversights: they are systemic failures that put lives at risk.
Is PR the cure?
As public relations professionals, our role must go beyond storytelling. We are architects of public opinion, facilitators of cultural change, and advocates for truth and equity. In recognition of this responsibility, I was honored to join IPRA UN Youth Representative Diya Narayan in a recent panel discussion at the UN-related NGO Committee on the Status of Women. The event on the theme of “The Role of Media in Eliminating Gender Bias within the Healthcare Industry” brought together voices from the healthcare, journalism, PR and nonprofit sectors.
A new prescription
What was clear throughout the session is that we must go beyond adjusting the narrative. We must reshape the entire point of view. Diversity in data, design, and dialogue is essential. But so is our responsibility as communicators, to ensure that all voices are heard and represented.
Let us continue to champion equity not only through our words, but through the impact we create together.
And let us see that impact reflected in your powerful, purpose-driven campaigns: the kind of work truly worthy of entry into the Golden World Awards 2025. There are categories covering Healthcare, Artificial Intelligence, SMEs, Internal Communications, Community Relations and many more.
Kind regards,
Nataša Pavlović Bujas
IPRA President 2024 – 2025
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