Women face distinct health challenges throughout their lives, with many experiencing higher rates of chronic diseases compared to men, noted Neda Nasseri, pharmacist and product director of drug benefits at Desjardins Insurance, during a session supported by Pfizer Canada at Benefits Canada’s 2024 Face to Face Drug Plan Management Forum.
Historically, women have been more prone to adverse reactions to medications, in part due to the exclusion of women from clinical trials until regulations mandated their inclusion in 1993, Nasseri explained. This gap in medical research has contributed to a lack of understanding of how treatments affect women differently.
One of the most pressing issues for women’s health is infertility, which now affects one in six adults of reproductive age, a 20 percent increase over the past 25 years. Nasseri suggested that employers should reimburse fertility treatments in their drug plans, emphasizing the importance of addressing hormonal disruptions linked to obesity, which can impact ovulation. Even modest weight loss can help restore normal hormonal function for women living with obesity, she added. She further urged employers to update their drug plans to reflect current medical guidelines that recognize obesity as a chronic disease and to ensure their coverage for obesity-related drugs is consistent with coverage for other chronic conditions.
Nasseri also highlighted the importance of vaccines as one of the most effective tools in preventive healthcare, advocating for drug plan sponsors to cover vaccines without restrictions. Vaccines for pregnant women, for instance, protect infants by transferring maternal antibodies that prevent serious illnesses.
Nearly half of Canadian women spend a significant portion of their lives in menopause, with one in four enduring severe symptoms, which can lead to job loss for 10 percent of them. Nasseri emphasized the need for drug plans to cover treatments like hormone therapy and medications for osteoporosis to support women through this phase of life.
Innovative treatments that address women-specific disorders are also essential, she noted. New Canadian guidelines for migraine treatment offer effective prescription options, while advancements in insomnia treatment focus on reducing wakefulness rather than inducing sleep, offering fewer side effects and a lower risk of dependency. Additionally, she pointed to new therapies for menstrual pain that specifically target conditions like heavy menstrual bleeding and endometriosis.
Nasseri concluded by stressing that women’s health challenges have far-reaching effects on families, workplaces, and society as a whole. By addressing these needs with comprehensive drug plans, employers not only improve women’s health but also reduce healthcare costs and enhance workforce participation and productivity.
Related topics:
Breakthrough Saliva Test Offers Hope for Endometriosis Diagnosis
