Calls for global policy changes to address primary health services that are failing to meet men’s needs

• Report found over three quarters (78%) of policies analysed made no mention of men’s health
• Lack of policy focus is impacting health outcomes for men who already face increased risks of conditions including cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease
• Policy changes could include extending primary care opening hours and HCP visits to male-dominated workplaces

Policymakers are being urged to give greater prominence to men’s use of primary healthcare as a new report shows a severe lack of focus on men’s health needs.

Global Action on Men’s Health (GAMH) launches its new report today (12 December) – No Man’s Land – which examines 27 global health policies and the way in which they approach men’s access to and uptake of primary care.

Published on Universal Health Coverage Day, the report suggests a lack of focus on men in primary care policy around the world is contributing to poor health outcomes, and includes a series of recommendations on how policies could be improved.

Despite men having a disproportionately higher disease burden – for example cardiovascular disease and cancers account for 67 per cent of male deaths - the report found that very few of the policies analysed focused on men’s health.

Findings showed that 22 per cent focused on men’s health alongside women and only 7 per cent engaged directly with men’s health needs in a “meaningful way”.

In fact, while gender equity and gender responsiveness were considered important guiding principles in policies, most only referred to gender inequities in relation to women’s health.  

GAMH is now calling for policymakers to recognise the effect a lack of focus on men in primary care policy is having, in a bid to increase men’s access to and uptake of primary care services.

Peter Baker, Director of Global Action on Men’s Health, said: “Men confront significant and persistent inequities in burden of disease for a range of health problems, many of which require early access to primary care services.  However, men’s use of primary healthcare is unnecessarily poor.  

“Men, especially men of working age, attend much less often than women and later in the course of many conditions.  This is the case with general practice, dentists, optometrists and pharmacists.

“The cause of men’s lower attendance is a combination of reluctance due to men’s socialisation and practical barriers such as limited opening hours, long waiting times and difficult-to-use booking systems.

“People have been saying for years that ‘men don’t go to the doctor’ yet very little has been done to put this right.  Some projects have been carried out at a local level in the UK which have successfully increased men’s uptake of primary care services, but this needs to be conducted on a much larger scale.

“Solutions could include offering services at convenient times, visits from primary care practitioners to men’s workplaces, sports venues, and faith organisations for example, and developing targeted health promotion. The potential of community pharmacy services, which are far easier to access than general practice, should be explored.”

The report’s publication comes off the back of the UK government’s announcement that a dedicated men’s health strategy is set to be published in 2025, focusing on some of the biggest issues affecting men, such as heart disease and prostate cancer as well as mental health.

The GAMH report has been supported by representatives of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA), and the World Health Organization (WHO), who will take part in a webinar later today to mark the launch of the report.

Dr Catherine Duggan, Chief Executive Officer at FIP, said: “Pharmacies play an important role when it comes to engaging men to address their health needs.  Pharmacists, especially those working in community pharmacy, will have a good understanding of the demographic of the area in which they work, as well as any potential inequalities affecting the health of men in that area.

“They can use this knowledge to tailor their services accordingly and carry out interventions at a local level.  Pharmacists can also create an inclusive environment in which men feel comfortable seeking help.

“By working hand in hand with other primary health services, we can help to engage men of all ages. Pharmacies provide access to expert advice on minor ailments without the need for an appointment. They need support so that they can continue to offer extended opening hours.”

Two WHO reports - one on PHC monitoring and one on adolescent health – were identified in GAMH’s paper as positive examples. 

These reports explicitly highlight gender disparities for both women and men as well as the access barriers faced by men and the underlying causes for the gendered patterns in men’s health.  Both reports also acknowledge the need for gender responsive services for both women and men.

Dr Arnoldas Jurgutis, Technical Officer, WHO European Centre for Primary Health Care, said: “Men face significant barriers rooted in individual and societal gender norms associated with masculinity, increased exposure to health risks, and systemic health system factors that limit optimal health-seeking behaviours and access to primary healthcare.  For instance, in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, these challenges contribute to men having a life expectancy up to 10 years shorter than women.

“With evidence showing that men are often diagnosed late or miss timely care for conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and mental health issues, it’s clear that addressing these inequities is essential to advancing Universal Health Coverage.

“This report highlights these critical gaps and will be invaluable in developing health systems which equitably meet the needs of both men and women across the life course.”

The full report is available to view here.

For more information on Global Action on Men’s Health, visit www.gamh.org.