Although the Constitution of Pakistan contains sections granting equality to women, a recent worldwide survey found that Pakistan is the fourth worst country in terms of discrimination against women. The situation is improving somewhat for educated younger women, but for older women, the patriarchal system of male dominance that prioritizes the rights, needs, and desires of men and subordinates those of women is very much a fact of life and has been for their entire lives.  

Building on data collected in 2000, 2001, 2003, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2017 in different parts of Pakistan, this new analysis supports findings consistent with the worldwide study. This researcher found that gender affects many aspects of the every day social determinants related to health. Older women feel less included in family decision-making, are less able to make decisions relating their own autonomy, have little control over money for their own needs, and report feeling isolated more often than older men. Older women get out of the house less often than men, have less social interaction with peers, get less exercise out of the house, and are more likely to require someone else’s permission to go anywhere.  

When they are sick, fewer older women than older men report that their families take care of them. Families are less likely to take older women to the doctor or to pay for medicine. Because fewer older women than older men control financial resources, older women are dependent on someone else’s decision to obtain medical care, pay for medicine, or go to the hospital when needed. This greatly limits access to health care..

To be fair, most older persons in Pakistan, both men and women, find that they are discriminated against, poor, are lonely, and isolated. Almost all older persons in Pakistan report that lack of money is the biggest barrier to health care. While the situation is grim for many older men, it is worse for older women.

Pakistan’s health priorities usually relate to maternal and child health and to communicable diseases. While there has begun to be some notice of chronic diseases, older persons generally, and older women in particular, are way down the list of the government’s priority. This data suggests that creating just a few new policies relating to daily life, exercise, medicine and healthcare are for older persons might make it more possible for older women in Pakistan to improve the quality of life in their remaining years   The paper makes a few policy recommendations for new programs for older women based on the research data.