E/2009/27 E/CN.6/2009/15 is used effectively to help meet development goals and targets and, inter alia, to assist them in achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women. B. Gender perspectives on global public health: implementing the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals * 2. The following summary is transmitted to the Economic and Social Council, in accordance with its resolution 2008/29 of 24 July 2008, as an input into its annual ministerial review of 2009. 1. On 12 March 2009, the Commission on the Status of Women convened an interactive expert panel on the theme “Gender perspectives on global public health: implementing the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals”. The session was moderated by Olivier Belle, Chairperson of the Commission. The President of the Economic and Social Council, Sylvie Lucas, Permanent Representative of Luxembourg to the United Nations, made an opening address. The panellists included Anjana Bhushan, Western Pacific Regional Office, World Health Organization (WHO); Hernán Montenegro, Pan American Health Organization/WHO; and Lynn Collins, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). 2. Participants agreed that gender inequality reduced the potential for women worldwide to access quality health care. Effective and gender-sensitive health systems were critical to achieving the Millennium Development Goals related to health, in particular, those related to women. Participants emphasized that gender was a strong determinant of access to health and that women’s full and equal access to health care was impeded by a lack of genderresponsive health policies. Health information and research were also often gender-neutral, gender-blind or even gender-biased, and did not take sufficient consideration of women’s health needs and concerns. Women’s and men’s health-seeking behaviour differed, on the basis of their gender-specific roles, opportunities and expectations. Experience indicated that gender-responsive health systems delivered positive results for women and men, and it was therefore crucial to transform health systems to meet the needs of women and accelerate the achievement of health-related Millennium Development Goals. 3. While important progress towards the achievement of health-related Millennium Development Goals and reduction in overall health inequities was being made, significant gaps and inequities persisted. In efforts to strengthen health systems, renewed emphasis was placed on the role of primary health care in addressing health challenges and as the main strategy for attaining health for all. Reforms in primary health care aimed at better and more equitable health outcomes, greater efficiency and better service delivery, lower health-care costs and higher user satisfaction. 4. Participants stressed the importance of universal health coverage through primary health care to improve health for women and men. Lack of coverage disproportionately affected the poor, especially poor women, and women __________________ * For the discussion, see chap. IV. 10 09-28398