Democracy is more likely to lead to health gains - this is the result of a comprehensive study published in the Lancet recently. It appears that political freedom is the best system of government for everyone and elections are inevitably linked to health. But the political system is not the only political determinant for health: women in government matter too. Another research project conducted in Canada found that women in government leadership positions not only work more collaboratively but also promote more gender equality, strengthen democratic institutions and contribute to better population health. Thus, gender politics are a key political determinant for health.
Ilona Kickbusch, Director of the Global Health Centre, will discuss with the lead authors of the studies and two women leaders the impact of political systems on health and the role of women in government.
Background information
- The relationships between democratic experience, adult health, and cause-specific mortality in 170 countries between 1980 and 2016: an observational analysis, The Lancet
- The more women in government, the healthier a population, The Conversation
- Democracy is good for your health and heart, major study finds, The Guardian