Mari Hauge
Women's Health Policy
On March 14th, 2025, the Glasgow University Social and Public Policy Society, in collaboration with the Endometriosis and PCOS Society, hosted a panel discussion on women’s health policy. The event was held at the Bridie Library in the Glasgow University Union, the event brought together students, academics, and healthcare advocates to explore critical issues surrounding women’s health policy. Through funding from the Student Experience Fund we were able to plan an event which highlighted this very important topic.
Women’s health is often overlooked and stigmatised in public discourse, despite its profound impact on individuals and society. The panel aimed to challenge this neglect by engaging in a discussion on how policy can better support women across different life stages. From menstrual health to menopause, reproductive rights to chronic conditions like endometriosis and PCOS, these topics are central to achieving health equity. Both the SPP and the Endo and PCOS society were very eager to be a part of this event in order to raise awareness about the topic, as well as to learn more about how people are affected by the current system.
The discussion covered a wide range of topics, guided by questions that encouraged participants to share their expertise and perspectives. The experts we talked to at the event were Professor Kathleen Riach and Anji Sandhu.
Professor Kathleen Riach, a globally recognised expert on menopause policies, highlighted the need for workplace accommodations for menstrual and menopausal health. Her work has influenced national guidelines for NHS Scotland employees and emphasised the importance of integrating health equity into organisational practices. She also talked a lot about the need for more readily available information and education about women’s health issues.
The second expert on the panel was Anji Sandhu, who discussed digital solutions like the PCOS Buddy app, which aims to improve healthcare access and outcomes for women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Technology was identified as a powerful tool for reducing barriers to care and enhancing patient education. One way of raising awareness which she talked about was through short films about women’s health issues. She also talked a lot about the way marginalised groups are affected with our current health system, and how there is a need for change in order for the voices of minorities to be better heard regarding women’s health issues. The way marginalised groups are adversely affected by the issues around women’s health policy was also highlighted by the audience during the Q&A section of the event.
I thought this event was very inspiring, and although it highlighted a lot of the inequalities and the shortcomings of the current women’s health policy, it was also more than just a discussion; it was a call to action. Women’s health policy in Scotland requires urgent attention to address disparities in access, representation, and outcomes. By bringing together experts and students, this panel was part of a larger process of bringing awareness and change to women’s health policy.
When talking to the audience after the event it was clear that this was an event which both undergrad and postgrad students were deeply interested in, and had been searching for for a while. Many of them felt like this overlooked topic is something which should be focused more on, and that this event was a good way of bringing attention to it.
I am very glad to have been a part of organising this event, and I am very grateful that both Kathleen and Anji were able to take time out of their busy schedules to be a part of the event. I am also very happy that the audience was so involved in the event, since they asked a lot of interesting and nuanced questions which I had not thought of when planning the event