Gender-specific findings from the Healthy Living in Asia survey announced today shows that despite women in Asia prioritizing health and well-being more than before the pandemic, the lack of time for selfcare due to work, family, and personal commitments and financial barriers are key obstacles preventing them from taking better care of their health. Over 2,000 women in Singapore, Indonesia, South Korea, and Thailand, participated in the survey commissioned by Philips and conducted by research agency Kantar Profiles Network. The results highlight existing gender healthcare gaps in Asia and call for greater support and empowerment of women in prioritizing their own health and well-being.
Increased awareness and recognition of the importance of women's health in Asia and in Thailand
Since the pandemic, nearly half of women in the survey are paying more attention to their overall physical (50%), mental (47%), and emotional health and wellness (47%) more than before. In Thailand, 53% of women in Thailand are paying more attention to their physical health, 46% to their mental health and 47% to their emotional health. In addition, 57% of women in Thailand also think mental and emotional well-being, has an impact on physical health. Majority (61%) of Thai women in the survey understand the importance of preventive health with about 40% of them regularly adopting healthier lifestyles and 50% of them regularly seeking healthcare information to increase awareness of disease prevention and healthy living. Nearly half (46%) feel that they could do more to take better care of their health, but only 32% of them regularly go for health checks and screenings. Majority state the lack of time due to work, family, and personal commitments (53%) and lack of financial resources (52%) as main barriers.
"Women makes up almost half of the population in Asia and have a significant influence on the health and well-being of their families, communities, and economy. By elevating the importance of women's healthcare and tailoring care according to their unique needs, we contribute to society's progress in gender equity. It is encouraging to see that women's health - and preventive health at large - has received higher attention in the region since the pandemic. Education and empowerment of women are key to driving more proactive healthcare actions," said Caroline Clarke, CEO & EVP, Philips ASEAN Pacific.
Digital health solutions potentially enabling better care for women
Women in Asia continue to bear a disproportionate burden of caregiving in families and communities[3] and more support is needed to help them prioritize their own health while they juggle between work, family, and personal responsibilities. In the survey, education on healthy living and more knowledge on using personal health technologies for health monitoring are top ways cited by women to encourage preventive health actions. 77% of women in Thailand said they are more likely to take some action and adjust their healthcare behaviour if they have access to these technologies, while 44% of them now use personal health technologies and devices to actively monitor their health more than they did before the pandemic. Women also plan to use to digital health solutions more in the future. Three years from now, about 3 out 4 women plan to use digital technologies to track general health and pre-existing diseases more than they do today.
"To improve the state of women's health in Asia, prevention and early detection of diseases must be prioritized. Today, women in the region are still dying from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth, and many women's health related conditions are often under-diagnosed and under-treated. At Philips, we are harnessing technologies to improve healthcare outcomes of women and girls globally. Digital technologies offer much hope in promoting health and education, and by providing gender inclusive data and insights we enable earlier diagnosis and more targeted and accessible solutions to women's health issues,'' added Ms Clarke.
Philips' commitment to digital innovation and D&I to close the gender health gap
Philips' solutions are making a meaningful difference in obstetrics and gynecology, cardiovascular and cancer care. In the obstetrics and gynecology, for example, Philip's ultrasounds and fetal and maternal monitoring solutions are game changers for at-risk pregnancies and are widening access to care for women in underserved communities. Philips Pregnancy+ app further supports women with reliable information and resources on pregnancy, childbirth and beyond. In supporting women's overall health and wellness, Philips' AI-powered toothbrush coupled with the Sonicare Al-powered app offers real-time guidance and personalized recommendations to improve users' brushing habits, thereby enabling one to make lifestyle changes which bring long-lasting health benefits.
To better understand and meet women's specific and diverse healthcare needs through innovation, Philips is committed to gender diversity in the workplace to ensure its employees across every level of the organization accurately represents the communities it serves. In Asia Pacific today, women comprise 66% of Philips' workforce and more than 37% of its senior leadership roles. Worldwide, Philips is working towards over 30% female representation of its senior leadership by 2025.
Mr. Viroj Vithayaveroj, Chairman and Managing Director of Philips (Thailand) Company Limited, said ""As members of the healthcare industry, women bring direct and intimate knowledge of women's' pain points and health issues. Their insights and contributions drive meaningful change and improve healthcare solutions for women. At Philips Thailand, 50% of our employees are women, and we strongly believe that the capability of our employees does not depend on gender, and the diversity and inclusion in workplace will be one of key success factors of the company in the long term".
[1] https://countrymeters.info/en/Asia#:~:text=2%2C442%2C670%2C377%20males%20as%20of%2031,as%20of%2031%20December%202022
[2] https://www.who.int/activities/value-gender-and-equity-in-the-global-health-workforce
[3] https://lkyspp.nus.edu.sg/docs/default-source/ips/mothership_its-2021-why-do-women-continue-to-take-on-a-disproportionate-burden-of-caregiving_220521.pdf
Source: FleishmanHillard