Gender inequality in healthcare and domestic roles

Reports from Austria and Croatia highlight systemic gender inequalities within the healthcare sector and domestic environments.

In Austria, the ‘Austrian Health Report 2026’ indicates that women experience a significant gender gap in medical treatment. Approximately 44 percent of women reported that doctors did not take their symptoms or pain seriously, compared to 23 percent of men. Furthermore, over one-third of women reported that physical symptoms were attributed to psychological or psychosomatic causes, a rate more than double that of men (15 percent). This has resulted in lower healthcare satisfaction among women (41 percent) compared to men (56 percent).

In Croatia, discussions at the Women in Healthcare Forum and studies of oncology specialists reveal professional disparities. While women make up nearly 70 percent of the global healthcare workforce, they occupy only about 25 percent of leadership roles. Among Croatian oncology specialists, 56 percent of women believe gender has limited their professional opportunities, citing work-life balance, social pressures, and unconscious bias as primary barriers.

Both regions report a disproportionate domestic burden on women. In Austria, 67 percent of women living with a partner are primarily responsible for managing family health matters. Similarly, research in Croatia shows women carry the majority of physical and cognitive household management, including the coordination of school and health communications for children.