Gender Inequality Fuels Drug Resistance Crisis Among Women – Experts Warn
Shobha Shukla
Behind the invisible burden of caregiving carried by millions of women and girls lies a growing global health threat that experts say can no longer be ignored.
Health advocates and gender experts speaking at the Women Deliver Conference 2026 have warned that harmful gender stereotypes and unequal access to healthcare are increasing women’s vulnerability to infections and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), including dangerous drug-resistant diseases.
According to Dr Ijyaa Singh of ReAct Asia Pacific, women and girls, particularly in developing countries, often shoulder the responsibility of caring for sick relatives while neglecting their own health needs.
She explained that poor infection prevention measures, combined with limited healthcare access, continue to expose women to serious health risks.
Experts noted that harmful social expectations, where women are expected to prioritise family care above personal wellbeing, contribute to delayed treatment, incomplete medication use, and increased exposure to infections.
Former World Health Organization Chief Scientist, Soumya Swaminathan, stressed that gender-based violence is closely linked to rising cases of drug-resistant infections among women.
She explained that survivors of domestic and sexual violence are more likely to suffer untreated sexually transmitted infections, urinary tract infections, and reproductive health complications, which can worsen due to poor access to proper healthcare and misuse of antibiotics.
The conference also highlighted the stigma faced by women living with diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis.
Bhakti Chavan, a survivor of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis, revealed that many women avoid testing or discontinue treatment because of fear of discrimination and social shame.
Stakeholders at the conference called for gender-sensitive national action plans on AMR, including stronger healthcare access for women, protection against gender-based violence, and improved public awareness on responsible antibiotic use.
They maintained that tackling gender inequality is critical to winning the fight against antimicrobial resistance and achieving global health and development goals.
Follow the Savinews Africa channel on WhatsApp:Savinews Africa WhatsApp Channel