The IWK Foundation has released the findings of the largest women's health survey in regional history, highlighting substantial barriers to healthcare access for women. Titled "The Voice of Maritime Women – The Unspoken Burden of Women’s Health," the survey gathered over 27,000 responses from women in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.

Independent MLA Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin remarked on the unprecedented nature of such a high response rate, indicating that it underscores the seriousness of the issues at hand. The survey revealed that only one-third of women consider themselves to be doing "OK," while 21 percent report being in crisis.

Nova Scotia is currently grappling with a healthcare crisis characterized by significant staffing shortages and remarkably long wait times, which have resulted in frequent emergency room (ER) closures and many individuals left waiting for family doctors. A report from the Montreal Economic Institute noted that in 2024, nearly 10 percent of hospital patients in Nova Scotia left the ER before receiving treatment.

While there are general healthcare improvements needed, Smith-McCrossin emphasized the specific deficiencies within women's healthcare highlighted by the IWK report. She expressed that the ramifications of women's health issues extend beyond individual well-being, adversely affecting the economy and society as a whole. When women face health challenges and are unable to function optimally, it impacts everyone.

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According to the report, 86 percent of women believe that significant changes are required to enhance women's health. The issues most often reported were chronic and often overlooked conditions such as stress, anxiety, sleep disturbances, hormonal imbalances, and the physical and emotional burdens of caregiving. Unfortunately, these health concerns have often been dismissed by healthcare providers as "women's issues," receiving less serious consideration.

Notably, 75 percent of participants indicated that they have delayed or avoided seeking healthcare due to various responsibilities, concerns about being unheard, and the tendency to downplay their health issues.

Jennifer Gillivan, President and CEO of the IWK Foundation, emphasized that the data reflects the lived experiences of over 27,000 Maritime women. She urged that these burdens must be addressed with urgency and attention. Women are not merely asking for more resilience; they are demanding improvements in care that prioritize their experiences, preventive care, and investments in specialized services at all life stages.

Moreover, Smith-McCrossin has introduced Bill 166, the Women’s Health Strategy Act, which she hopes will encourage the government to take women's health concerns seriously, regardless of whether the bill is passed in its entirety. She also called on the federal government to establish standards that provinces must adhere to, stressing the importance of accountability given that taxpayer money supports the healthcare system.