A recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO) sheds light on the disproportionate burden of unpaid healthcare activities borne by women worldwide. According to the findings, women contribute an estimated 76% of all unpaid healthcare tasks, highlighting a significant gender disparity in this domain.
The report underscores the staggering amount of time women dedicate to unpaid healthcare work, ranging from two to ten times more than men globally. This translates to a staggering total of 16.4 billion hours per day devoted to such activities by women.
Furthermore, the gender wage gap persists in the paid healthcare sector, with women facing an average pay gap of 24% compared to their male counterparts, even after adjusting for factors such as working hours, experience, education, job category, and institutional sector. These disparities underscore the systemic gender-based discrimination prevalent in healthcare and care-related employment.
Chronic underinvestment in health systems exacerbates this inequality, perpetuating a cycle wherein unpaid healthcare responsibilities hinder women’s participation in paid labor and economic empowerment. The report warns that without adequate investment and progress towards universal health coverage (UHC), the burden of unpaid care work on women may intensify over time.
Jim Campbell, WHO’s Director for Health Workforce, emphasized the importance of gender-equitable investments in healthcare and care work to promote fairer and more inclusive economies. Recognizing, valuing, and investing in all forms of healthcare and care work is crucial for accelerating progress towards UHC and fostering economic empowerment for women.
The report calls upon leaders, policymakers, and employers to prioritize investment in healthcare and care systems, advocating for a fair distribution of resources and opportunities. It underscores the urgent need for a paradigm shift towards gender equity in healthcare to ensure better health outcomes and economic empowerment for women globally.
