Knowledge deficits in gender-sensitive medicine should not be transferred to the digital world!

20.10.2023 12:31

In order to prevent incorrect healthcare for women, existing knowledge gaps in gender-sensitive medicine must be closed and gender bias in artificial intelligence (AI) must be excluded. The Round Table “Women in Health Care” approached politicians with this demand at its second parliamentary evening on October 16th.

In the presence of Federal Minister for Family Affairs Lisa Paus, members of the German Bundestag and representatives from the health system, science and business, around 150 guests followed an intensive panel discussion on the topic of “Digital healthcare without gender bias” at the Saarland state representation.

Failure to take gender differences into account can have fatal consequences for women's health

The 12 supporting organizations united in the round table also had a position paper with them to draw attention to the current problem. Under the title “Exclude gender bias in artificial intelligence – increase quality of care,” the paper deals with the lack of consideration of gender-specific differences in data collection, which can have fatal consequences for women’s health. Because the importance of algorithms and AI in healthcare is constantly increasing, the underlying scientific data must be complete. In reality, however, things look different.

There is a gender bias effect

Women continue to be underrepresented in clinical trials. This means that the data bases on which AI analyzes are based are insufficient and there is therefore a gender bias - a gender-related distortion effect, so to speak. In addition, the automated evaluation of data, for example with AI, often does not ensure sufficient consideration of gender-specific aspects. The position paper goes on to say that care that is not gender-appropriate to this extent could be seen as incorrect care. For the quality of care, it is therefore crucial to pay attention to equal opportunities here too. Existing knowledge deficits in gender-sensitive medicine must not be transferred to the digital world.

Demand for gender-sensitive (further) development of digital technologies

In a healthcare system that will also use elements of AI in the future, there will also be a need for great sensitivity to the structure and operation of algorithms. However, women are currently significantly underrepresented in IT professions and thus in the design of digitalization in the healthcare system. The round table “Women in Health Care” therefore calls for the gender-sensitive (further) development of digital technologies as well as an equal representation of women and men in digitalization design positions.

In order for the digital transformation of the healthcare system to be successful, the 12 partner organizations are also calling for the development of a mission statement that includes all genders equally in the development of AI-supported solutions. Gender-specific aspects must be taken into account in training, (basic) research and care so that digital applications can be contemporary and diverse for all genders. There are also calls for a higher representation of women in the data base, the promotion of parity in teaching, research and leadership in the digital area and the increased filling of leadership positions in health IT by women.

The detailed position paper can be found at: https://healthcare-frauen.de/fileadmin/user_upload/HCF/08_Presse/2023-10-12_Positionspapier_Gender-Bias_final.pdf