502 PS 5: The imperative of inclusivity and diversity in health

Abstract PS 5: Inclusivity and Diversity - Magda Robalo Correia e Silva and Kolitha Wickramage, Auditorium A & B (Rectory), September 5, 2025, 14:00 - 15:00 This plenary will explore the critical need for inclusivity and diversity in global health policies and systems, particularly through a gender-responsive and intersectional lens. Health is a universal human right, yet structural inequities—rooted in race, gender, ethnicity, and migration status—continue to marginalize millions. Migrant women, for instance, face compounded vulnerabilities such as gender-based violence, poor access to sexual and reproductive health services, and exploitative labor conditions, which are often overlooked in mainstream health policies. Against the backdrop of declining global health financing and shifting donor priorities, the consequences for equitable health access are severe—especially in low- and middle-income countries. Women make up the majority of the global health workforce but remain vastly underrepresented in leadership, and much of their labor remains unpaid and unrecognized. Ethnic groups are marginalized, made invisible and lack access to quality health care and to essential services. This session will highlight critical gaps in health research funding, gender bias in healthcare delivery, and the need to address the leadership gap. It will also offer key policy recommendations, including integrating gender and migration perspectives into health policy, increasing health investment, promoting women’s leadership, and ensuring research equity. The session concludes with a call to action for governments, multilateral agencies, and civil society to commit to transforming health systems into inclusive, just, and equitable structures for all.