‘Shocking’: Two-thirds of Australian women face ‘bias or discrimination’ in health system

Assistant Health and Aged Care Minister Ged Kearney says she was a “little bit shocked” two out of three Australian women say they have experienced “some form of bias or discrimination” in the health system. Two-thirds of Australian women say they’ve experienced gender bias or discrimination when accessing healthcare, according to the federal government’s landmark #EndGenderBias survey, conducted to improve access to healthcare and outcomes for women. “I wasn’t surprised by the response as a health professional and as a woman,” Ms Kearney told Sky News Australia. “I have understood the discrimination bias felt by women in the system, but I’ve got to say I was a little bit shocked two out of three women say they experience some form of bias or discrimination in the health system. “70 per cent of those said it happened at their local GP … so these outcomes are shocking.”