Why equal access to healthcare for women is everyone’s responsibility

This Week’s Expert View examines the importance of equal access to healthcare for women and is by Peter Wickersham, Vice President and General Manager, UK & Ireland at Gilead Sciences (Nasdaq: GILD). The advertorial has been funded by Gilead Sciences Ltd.

Since my first job in healthcare over 25 years ago to my current role within Gilead UK&I, I have seen time and time again that women still face real and lasting barriers to fair access to healthcare. Listening closely to colleagues, advocates and patients has deepened my understanding of the scale, complexity and deep-rooted nature of these inequities and has only reinforced my belief in how much work still lies ahead to address them.

As a husband and father, this issue is not only professional but personal. I have seen instances in which my wife or daughter were denied equal healthcare, seemingly because of their gender. These instances have left me saddened, frustrated and determined to help make a change.

Since moving from the US to the UK, I’ve been struck by the strength of the NHS, but also the persistent gaps that remain for women. The truth is that many women continue to face unequal access to healthcare. Too often, their symptoms are dismissed, diagnoses are delayed and care is not tailored to their needs. For women from underrepresented communities, these barriers can be even greater. Their perspectives are too often excluded from how services are designed and delivered.

As someone leading incredibly talented teams across HIV, oncology and liver disease, I am constantly reminded of the urgent need to address the systemic inequities women face in accessing and receiving quality healthcare. While there has been progress, it has not benefited all women equally.

Achieving equal access to care demands empathy, active listening and long-term commitment and this responsibility cannot be left to women alone.

The bottom line is simple: women deserve access to equitable healthcare and to be heard, understood and seen. Achieving this means tailored programmes, awareness-raising initiatives and a sustained commitment to driving meaningful change.

Creating visibility through impactful storytelling

One of the most powerful examples of this for me has been our partnership with Black Women Rising. We worked with Black Women Rising to create Unseen, Unheard, an award-winning theatre production based on the real experiences of six Black British women living with breast cancer.

The play explores timely diagnosis, access to care, survival and media representation through the setting of a new cancer support group. A filmed version has since toured major UK cities and is now being used as an educational tool by charities and hospitals.

When I went to see the play, I’m not afraid to admit that I quietly cried at the back of the auditorium. In an extremely moving way, it brought to life how cultural beliefs, traditions and even something as personal as the use of wigs can shape a woman’s journey with breast cancer. It reinforced for me how wider cultural views can influence whether someone seeks help and just how important it is to truly understand these perspectives if we want healthcare to be equitable.

In 2024, our partnerships continued, with the co-development of a United Vision for Change which outlines policy recommendations to ensure that the needs of all women are considered across the breast cancer pathway. We launched the report in the House of Commons with a panel of incredible women sharing their perspectives of health inequalities in breast cancer and how stakeholders can be supported to reduce inequalities across the system. Seeing the lived experiences of the women translated into practical recommendations for tackling health inequalities was a powerful reminder of the impact that authentic storytelling can have in shifting perspectives and reframing conversations about equity in cancer care.

The power of Unseen Unheard inspired us to collaborate with the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and NHS England to sponsor an e-learning tool for GPs, Diagnosing Breast Cancer in Black Women. The module highlights the unique challenges, risk factors and barriers to diagnosis faced by Black women and supports clinicians in providing more culturally sensitive care. It has been well received by GPs and I hope it will drive meaningful change in clinical understanding and care for Black women living with breast cancer.

Helping women navigate a difficult diagnosis

I’ve spoken to many women over the years about what it feels like to hear the words “you have cancer.” It’s a moment that changes everything. For some, it is made even harder when the information that follows does not feel relevant, when it is not in your language, does not reflect your culture or leaves you questioning where you fit in the picture.

That’s why inclusive support for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has been such an important focus for us. It’s a particularly aggressive type of breast cancer and it often affects younger women and Black women more than others. These are people who may be juggling families, careers and a thousand other responsibilities, yet they still deserve information and support that reflects their realities.

TNBCSupport.com grew out of conversations with patients and advocates who told us what was missing. We wanted to create something they could see themselves in and a place to find clear answers, practical help and stories from others who’ve walked the same path.

What matters most to me is hearing that it’s making a difference. When someone says, “I don’t feel alone anymore,” that is when I know we are on the right track.

Putting women’s experiences at the centre of the conversation

Breast cancer is a condition that mainly affects women, so our focus is often on supporting marginalised communities within that group. HIV presents another set of challenges entirely. For so long, HIV was wrongly associated only with gay and bisexual men, a stereotype that fuelled stigma and misunderstanding.

In recent years, however, more women have been diagnosed each year than men, which means we must examine the factors driving this shift. That is certainly true in the UK, where women account for one in three people living with HIV, yet face higher rates of late diagnosis and a shortage of gender-specific services.

Earlier this year, we worked with the Sophia Forum, the leading patient group supporting women living with HIV, to co-author a report, Systematically Excluded and Ignored.  The purpose of the report was to put women’s voices and lived experiences firmly at the centre of HIV care. The report sets out five urgent calls to action, from tackling late HIV diagnosis in women, to ensuring that research and services better reflect women’s lived realities. Working with Sophia Forum and Sane Seven, an internationally acclaimed photographer and gender equality advocate, we created eight powerful portraits of eight strong women living with HIV.

What I liked most about our Women and HIV campaign was how unapologetic it was. The portraits were not polite or softened; they were bold, vibrant and full of personality. You could feel the confidence in the way each woman held herself. It was more than a photograph, it was a statement that her visibility matters.

What made it so impactful was how each of the policy points came alive through the women themselves. Their images and words didn’t just call for change, they embodied it.

That, for me, is the power of creative work like this. It can shift the conversation, not by telling people what needs to happen, but by showing them exactly who it’s for.

My reflections

Gender equity in healthcare is a shared responsibility. It demands listening deeply, challenging our assumptions and staying open to new ways of thinking. At Gilead, we’re committed to that journey, learning from those with lived experience, building partnerships that amplify their voices and turning insight into action.

Real change happens when we work together and refuse to accept anything less than equity for all.

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September 2025 | UKI-COR-0079