Where the law stands, Dossier 2025/2074(INI)
Gender inequalities in health, specifically as regards gender-specific conditions
Own-initiative report (INI): Parliament’s own position on a topic. It is not binding. · First reading
Parliament sets out its own position on a topic. The resolution is not binding but signals what Parliament wants.
Where it stands
Parliament’s position
Parliament adopted the text on 16 September 2026. This is its final position on the matter.
- Referred to committee(done) 3 April 2025
- Committee work(done) Report adopted 23 June 2026
- Tabled for plenary(done) 26 August 2026
- Plenary vote(done) Adopted 16 September 2026
- Parliament’s position(done) Final
Decided in plenary
16 September 2026 · decision 18
Health, Resolution
Gender inequalities in health, specifically as regards gender-specific conditions
Adopted 390 for · 218 against · 29 abstained by a clear majority
AI summary:The text examines the whole healthcare cycle, from clinical trials and drug development to diagnosis and treatment, and sets out Parliament's official position.
What changed
Latest Tabled for plenary → Adopted by Parliament
AI summary:The text adds a requirement that health policy and research be grounded in scientific evidence and objective biological facts, and adds a paragraph on maternal healthcare and one linking a competitive economy to sustaining healthcare. It drops calls for binding targets and mandatory requirements on data collection and research design, replacing them with calls to promote such measures and to respect the principle of subsidiarity and national discretion. It drops the word "compulsory" from healthcare training, the word "systemic" before inequalities, and the reference to budgetary measures in the call to complement the Gender Equality Strategy. It adds a clarification on animal testing research design and changes the description of those affected by menstrual poverty. The other changes are formal: decimal separators are updated from points to commas.
Committee draft → Tabled for plenary
AI summary:The new version replaces the recitals and most operative paragraphs with a broader set of commitments on women's health, covering access barriers, underfunded conditions, mental health, digital health and global health. It adds measures on clinical trials, data collection, training for health professionals, a European Reference Network on women's health and responses to gender-based violence and harmful practices. It adds paragraphs on cardiovascular disease, cancer, sexual and reproductive health and rights, abortion, contraception, maternity care, fertility, menopause, endometriosis, diabetes and other conditions. It adds funding commitments for research and prevention, an expert group, a women's health strategy with indicators, and support for civil society organisations.
Who works on it
- Lead committee
- Women’s Rights and Gender Equality
- The MEP who drafts the report and negotiates it on behalf of the committee.
- Billy Kelleher (Renew)
- An MEP who follows a report on behalf of their own group when another group holds the rapporteur.
- Maria Walsh (EPP), Cecilia Strada (S&D), Mathilde Androuët (Patriots), Laurence Trochu (ECR), Mélissa Camara (Greens), Hanna Gedin (The Left), Irmhild Bossdorf (ESN)
- Committees giving an opinion
- Public Health· rapporteurCatarina Martins (The Left)
The text, version by version
Newest first.
Adopted by Parliament· 16 Sept 2026
AI summary:Parliament's resolution sets out gender inequalities in health, especially gender-specific conditions, and asks the Commission and member states to act.
Tabled for plenary· 26 Aug 2026
AI summary:Parliament's resolution on gender inequalities in health, focusing on gender-specific conditions. It calls for sex- and gender-sensitive research, better diagnostics and treatment, action on endometriosis, menopause, cardiovascular disease and cancer, and universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Committee draft· 7 Jan 2026
AI summary:This draft report by the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality examines gender inequalities in health, focusing on gender-specific conditions. It calls for binding targets, mandatory sex-disaggregated data in EU-funded projects, and dedicated funding for research into conditions such as endometriosis and menopause.
Committee opinions: Draft opinion (SANT), Opinion (SANT)
Timeline
Newest first.
Plenary stage 3 steps
16 September 2026
Plenary vote
Sitting of 16 Sept 2026 Report A10-0200/2026Adopted text TA10-0305/2026
9 September 2026
8 amendments tabled for the plenary vote
Groups propose changes to the tabled text; each is voted on before the final vote.
26 August 2026
Report tabled for plenary
This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.
Committee stage 5 steps
23 June 2026
Committee vote: report adopted
FEMM (Women’s Rights and Gender Equality) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.
23 April 2026
SANT (Public Health) adopted its opinion
The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.
5 February 2026
Amendments tabled in committee
Members of FEMM (Women’s Rights and Gender Equality) proposed changes to the draft.
7 January 2026
Draft report published
The rapporteur’s first text in FEMM (Women’s Rights and Gender Equality). Members can table amendments before the committee votes.
3 April 2025
Referred to the FEMM (Women’s Rights and Gender Equality) committee
The lead committee prepares the report; SANT (Public Health) gives an opinion.
Official record: Legislative Observatory, 2025/2074(INI)