Editorial by Ms Maral Aghababai | EHMA newsletter
31 March 2026
An editorial by Ms Maral Aghababai, Junior Policy Officer at EHMA, written for the March 2026 edition of the health management newsletter.
March is a month that shines a spotlight on women around the world. From International Women’s Day to countless national initiatives celebrating women’s achievements, it is a time to reflect not just on progress, but on the challenges that remain. One of the most pressing challenges in Europe continues to be women’s access to safe, timely, and comprehensive healthcare. This year, that conversation gains new momentum with the My Voice, My Choice Initiative, which has recently gathered significant public attention and has been referenced in discussions around the European Commission’s Gender Equality Strategy 2026–2030.
With more than 1.12 million verified signatures, the initiative shows the power of collective action. It sends a clear message: women across Europe want healthcare systems that respond to their needs, respect their choices, and ensure access to essential services. For health managers, this represents both a challenge and an opportunity. It is a call to create services that are equitable, responsive, and patient-centred, addressing barriers that disproportionately affect women. Barriers such as limited access to reproductive and preventive services, caregiving responsibilities that restrict time for appointments, gender biases in clinical decision-making, and gaps in integrated care for chronic conditions. By tackling these practical and systemic obstacles, Member States can ensure women receive the care they need when they need it.
Women’s health encompasses not only systemic gaps but also reproductive health services. At EHMA, we approach this from a health management perspective, prioritising safe, timely, and accessible care for patients within the context of national health systems. This requires clear protocols, robust governance frameworks, and well-trained professionals capable of delivering services safely and appropriately. The goal is straightforward: every woman should be able to access the healthcare she needs without obstacles or undue burden.
Our work at EHMA also reflects this growing focus on women’s health as a strategic priority. Through projects such as ALLIAX, we highlight a persistent challenge: when health issues predominantly affect women, they are often minimised, normalised, or insufficiently prioritised, revealing how healthcare systems define urgency and allocate resources. Access is not just about availability, it is about being seen, heard, and treated with dignity. Too often, care remains fragmented or insufficiently tailored, with structural gaps where gender and age shape both health outcomes and the quality of care received. Further initiatives such as MELIORA support this effort by promoting the integration of sex- and gender-sensitive approaches in research and care, helping ensure that women’s health is recognised, valued, and addressed comprehensively.
These insights also remind us that women’s health goes far beyond reproductive care. Preventive screenings, chronic disease management, mental health support, and personalised follow-up all depend on the same core principles: accessibility, inclusivity, and responsiveness. Care must also recognise how gender and age intersect to shape women’s experiences and needs, ensuring services are tailored rather than one-size-fits-all. Health managers, clinicians, care teams, policymakers, civil society organisations, and advocates all play a vital role in addressing these gaps, so that women’s needs are recognised and no one is left behind.
Ultimately, recent initiatives and policy discussions illustrate the intersection of policy, patient empowerment, and health management. These debates highlight the importance of ensuring that healthcare systems remain responsive to women’s needs. By prioritising equity, responsiveness, and patient-centred care, the EU can ensure that women’s voices shape the services they receive.
As we reflect this March, it is clear that progress in women’s health depends not only on policies, but also on the people and organisations who put them into action. Recent discussions during the International Women’s Day Talks, hosted by The Parliament Magazine, highlighted a similar message: while women live longer than men, they do not necessarily live healthier lives. The persistent gaps women face across their life course highlight the broader challenges that continue to shape women’s health across Europe. By working together, we can ensure that every woman has the information, support, and access she needs to make the best choices for her health – and that her voice truly counts.
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What our Members say
I have been active in EHMA since the first years of the '90s and I have seen its evolution from a small association of members interested in sharing knowledge on health management practices to the current status of reference and advisory key player for EU, health systems and organisations, stakeholders associations, industry and universities. EHMA is now a unique knowledge hub, policy advisor, community of practice and network of best in class organisations involved in health policy and management. A place where health managers can build their competences, policy-makers and stakeholder associations envision how to implement and sustain change through health management, industry leaders understand how to engage more effectively with health organisations and systems. The right place to nurture and grow health management capabilities and capacity for every stakeholder of health systems.
Prof. Federico Lega, University of Milan, Italy
Health management has a crucial function in shaping public health and health system challenges. The Medical University of Varna, Bulgaria had success in collaborating with EHMA on EU-funded projects that has resourced us to create new health management competencies for the future workforce. In addition to all classical definitions, health management is a science dealing with individuals, groups, and society at large. It is an art contributing to the beauty of our lives and an interactive communication process at all levels of institutions and human energy. I have also had the pleasure to chair the South Eastern European Special Interest Group which gives members a space to discuss and tools to address how health systems are managed in our regions.
Prof. Todorka Kostadinova, Medical University of Varna, Bulgaria
I enjoy the high level of interaction and engagement in EHMA’s activities, in particular during the annual conference where the panel discussions are rich and well prepared. As a hospital manager and professor of health management, EHMA motivates and inspires me to be creative. You go back home feeling energised from seeing old friends and making new connections, as well as being convinced of serving as EHMA’s ambassador. It’s a strong feeling of interdisciplinary engagement, but it also feels like being part of family-like community.
Prof. Sandra C. Buttigieg, University of Malta, Malta
EHMA is a pre-eminent organisation for everyone working in planning, managing and delivering health services across Europe. As a long standing member of EHMA I have always been impressed by the vibrant community of managers, researchers and academics it has created and by the many opportunities for sharing knowledge and funding opportunities it has brought to its members. Its international scope is impressive and its impact is often felt in management and research across European and national health systems.
Prof. Axel Kaehne, Edge Hill University, UK
Health workforce has become more essential in operating, managing and maintaining health systems lately, particularly in crisis and emergency situations. European healthcare professions and the workforce need to be high on the agenda of managers and decision makers. The Health Services Management Training Centre, Semmelweis University in Hungary is a longstanding EHMA member, because it connects us with collaborators and experts, with whom we can have complex debates, from whom we can learn and at the end find solutions in various challenging fields of healthcare management.
Dr Eszter Kovács, Health Services Management Training Centre, Semmelweis University, Hungary
As a hospital administrator and health management professor, I see on a daily basis that the healthcare challenges require talented and skilled managers to transform it. the EHMA membership has been beneficial to bring healthcare management research and education to the demanding healthcare services world, promoting healthcare management competencies and knowledge creation.
Dr Alexandre Lourenco, APAH - Association of Portuguese Hospital Managers, Portugal
Many healthcare systems in Europe and beyond are facing similar challenges which require innovative and creative solutions. EHMA’s annual conference, webinars, Programme Directors’ group and other activities and resources provide incredible opportunities for networking, connecting and sharing experiences. A distinct feature of EHMA is the diversity of members with representation from many countries, sectors and different communities of practice – academic, policy-makers, practitioners, managers, leaders and students. The annual conference is a highlight in the calendar year, offering a friendly, fun and learningful environment for emerging and established members to engage, collaborate and meet up with old and new friends. I am proud to be a member of the EHMA Board.
Prof. Ann Mahon, University of Manchester, UK
Society evolution, pandemics and ageing modify health needs. So, health policies and services are to change dramatically. EHMA, through webinars, workshops and annual conference provides an excellent insight to a professional changing world, favouring closeness to management innovation and the protagonists of these changes. As a primary care services’ manager, participating in EHMA activities is really worth it and allows to involve oneself in the innovation processes.
Dr Antoni Peris Grao, Consorci Castelldefels Agents de Salut (CASAP), Spain