A report criticising the Department of Health's strategy on women's health was presented to the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, yesterday.
The Women's Health Council (WHC), which advises the Minister, drew up the report, which states that the Department's Plan for Women's Health, 1997-1999 lacked success, was too aspirational, lacked specific targets and ring-fenced funding.
The intention had been to develop regional plans on women's health, but this had turned into a "long and arduous process", according to the WHC report. "Publication of plans gave way to a loss of momentum and a sense of drift in several regions, leading to confusion about role, and even disbandment," it says.
However, Ms Geraldine Luddy, director of the WHC, said that the preparation of the Department's plan was innovative and had acted as a catalyst for improvement.
Mr Martin pointed out that the Republic was second only to Australia in producing a national policy plan specifically dealing with women's health.
Roles and responsibilities must be clearly defined and health board policy should be gender-proofed, the WHC report says. It calls for a review of the medical card scheme to benefit mothers and babies and the speedy implementation of the breast and cervical screening programmes as "full services".
Heart disease should not be seen as a "men's disease", the report says, as women are as much affected as men by cardiovascular disease. "There is evidence in the scientific literature of less focus on their \ needs at all levels, from health-promotion through to tertiary care," the report says.
Focusing on women's health is essential, the WHC says, because of the stresses faced by them in the multiple roles they have to fulfil. The report points to research which shows that 20 per cent of married women and mothers have taken tranquilisers for stress at some time, compared with only 7 per cent of single women.
Demands from work and home are also having a negative effect on breast-feeding rates. The report calls for an extension in the length of maternity leave, an integrated approach between government departments and a more encouraging approach from employers to help increase breast-feeding rates.
