This article asks the questions:
These and other questions were crowdsourced across 5 thematic areas for the research prioritisation process on gender and COVID-19 co-convened by the United Nations University – International Institute for Global Health, and the University of the Western Cape’s School of Public Health.
The thematic group on gender and health governance for COVID-19 articulates five key gender and governance dimensions: i) ideology and values; ii) policies, regulations and legislations; iii) actor alignment and accountability; iv) data and research governance; and v) citizen participation (Figure 1). Together these dimensions shape how actors and relationships influence power and decision making in health systems, and the societal transformation needed to realise gender mainstreamed, gender responsive and gender resilient health systems.
Participants highlight that governance is more than the organs of the government. Governance should be the space in which people express their voice collectively and work together.
COVID-19 has revealed weaknesses in market approaches (e.g. vaccine supply and access), but has also demonstrated government failures, even at global levels. It is furthermore jarring to realize that collective action can also fail.
Empowerment and voice are core principles underlying collective action, but marginalised groups (including disadvantaged women) face multiple asymmetries of power.
There are vested interests that influence decision making in the health systems. How can women and gender diverse people, particularly those from disenfranchised groups, exert their voice in collective health systems discourses and decision-making, and be heard?
We need to develop more inclusive national platforms and other approaches for consensus building within health systems, and centre women and gender diverse people within those platforms.
The Top 10 Gender and Governance of Health Systems for COVID-19 questions (October 4)
These results are still evolving; the relative importance of each research question changes as more people respond to the survey. We invite those from as many organizational/professional backgrounds and geographical regions to participate in English, French, Spanish or Portuguese. Your voice matters in this endeavour for an equitable world where gender is mainstreamed and gender responsiveness and resilience characterise health systems at all times, pandemics notwithstanding.
Your voice matters, join us!
Survey responses on health status and behaviour, vaccine & therapeutics R&D, health service delivery, as well as health governance are welcome. Please vote on or before Friday 15th October for the very last time. Stay tuned for final results and launch in early December through the buzzboard.
