Deputy Director of the Foundation Moderates Roundtable on “Women and Girls: Empowerment in Health Care”
On March 21, 2025, a roundtable discussion entitled “Women and Girls: Empowerment in Health Care” was held at the National Research University Higher School of Economics. The event was moderated by Irina Kostetskaya, Deputy Director of the Infosvyaz Foundation. The roundtable brought together representatives of medical, academic, and civil society organizations working in the field of women’s health.
A key message running through all the presentations was the recognition that women can and should serve as key advocates of healthy lifestyles. This role has the potential to enhance women’s status within families and society as a whole.
Based on the discussion, several key recommendations were developed. These recommendations will be further discussed with international partners within the Women’s Empowerment in Health Task Force of Women20, the G20 engagement group focused on gender equality.
Key recommendations resulting from the discussion include:
Support for multicenter research on various aspects of women’s health across different life stages, taking into account ethnic and genetic characteristics. To enable effective machine learning and the responsible use of artificial intelligence in medical devices, the establishment of repositories of anonymized medical data covering diverse ethnic, age, and sex groups is considered essential.
Support for expanding post-marketing studies on the use of medicinal products among pregnant and breastfeeding women (Phase IV clinical trials). This requires improvements to pharmacovigilance systems and the creation of a global standardized framework for collecting, transmitting, and sharing data on medication use and adverse reactions in women at different stages of the reproductive cycle, with particular attention to pregnant and breastfeeding women. Additional work is also needed to address patient management in cases of identified adverse effects, including long-term follow-up and insurance coverage.
To prevent rare diseases, the implementation of targeted preconception genetic screening programs for adolescent girls in organized settings, with state financial support, is recommended. In addition to preventing the birth of children with rare diseases and reducing the associated burden on families and the state, such programs may also enhance women’s role in decision-making regarding their future. These programs should include measures to improve medical literacy among girls and their parents, as well as systematic support for girls with identified genetic characteristics. Testing must be conducted on the basis of voluntary informed consent. The possibility of providing one-time preconception genetic screening free of charge in clinical settings is also recommended.
The implementation of comprehensive national “Healthy Nutrition” programs is recommended, including initiatives to improve health literacy related to nutrition, promote healthy eating habits, prevent anorexia, and provide nutritional support for women at key life stages (menarche, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopause). These efforts may be supported through the development of advisory services and related industries, as well as targeted support measures such as nutrition vouchers for pregnant and breastfeeding women.