New Delhi, April 22 -- Efforts to promote gender justice in global health have been obstructed by powerful political, economic and ideological interests, according a paper released this month by the journal The Lancet. The report, by the Lancet Commission on gender and global health, warned that without urgent reforms to make health systems more equitable and inclusive, the world will remain far from achieving gender equality or health equity for all.

The Commission, composed of academics, health professionals and civil society leaders from around the world, described gender justice as essential for improving health outcomes and reducing inequities across populations. It defined gender justice as the realisation of universal rights in he...