Stamp of Approval - International Women’s Day 2026

This International Women's Day, An Post launched a series of stamps celebrating women medics. Dr. Kate McCann was delighted to be invited to the event this week on 5 March 2026 to represent WiMIN

It's really important because the impact of women medics goes beyond the accomplishments of pioneering and extraordinary women, beyond the best of us.

We now have over quarter century of data on how readmission rates and overall outcomes, including surgical outcomes, are better for women patients of women doctors.

Women physicians are more likely to order more preventive tests for women patients, more likely to discuss their whole person needs. The increase of women physicians in different specialities has been a factor in bringing to attention the persistent gender gaps in medical research. Most importantly, research has shown that women doctors have a different communication style and this may be becoming even more critical in an age where medical misinformation - that disproportionately targets women - is a growing problem that does real harm. The role of patient education, health literacy, and patient empowerment in moving towards equity in healthcare has never been more important. While women live longer than men, on average they live more of those years with chronic disease burden.

On international women's day, access to healthcare is a right. Access to good communication and correct information about health and science is a right. Shared decision making in healthcare is a right. And we need women as an equal part of the healthcare provision, the health education, and the health communication.