Last week, the UK government launched a call for men of all ages to come forward and feed into England’s first ever men’s health strategy.
The 12-week call for evidence will gather insights from the public, health and social care professionals, academics and employers so the government can properly consider how to prevent and tackle the biggest issues facing men from all backgrounds.
The government is asking for opinions on what is working and what more needs to be done to close the life expectancy gap between men and women, as men in England die nearly four years earlier than women, on average.
We round up your thoughts on the biggest health problems facing men today and how health tech and innovative new approaches can address them.
Ian Budd, Prescribing Pharmacist at Chemist 4 U, said:
Men’s health in England is dealing with some serious challenges.
We are seeing higher rates of cancer, heart disease and type 2 diabetes, not to mention the heavy toll of mental health issues, especially suicide, which is still the leading cause of death for men under 50.
As an online pharmacist, I have witnessed how digital healthcare can really make a difference.
Many men put off seeking help or find it tough to engage with traditional healthcare, often because of stigma, time constraints, or simply not having easy access to services.
Online pharmacy services and digital healthcare platforms can help fill those gaps by providing confidential and convenient access to effective treatments and professional support.
Dr Mohamed Najjar from Jorja Healthcare Group
Obesity is a huge problem facing men’s health, and a significant proportion of the male population is classified as overweight or obese.
Many men struggle to lose weight, and sustain the weight loss on their own and this is where GLP-1 medications can be so effective.
They mimic the effects of the natural gut hormone, helping to reduce appetite, slow digestion and improve insulin sensitivity.
These medications are arguably the single biggest innovation in the weight-loss sphere in the last century and have the power to transform men’s health for the better.
Daniel Herman, Founder, Bio-Synergy
I believe one of the biggest health challenges facing men today is the lack of awareness and proactive engagement with their health.
Many men still delay or avoid seeking medical advice, often until symptoms become severe.
Tackling this requires a focus on awareness, education, and giving individuals the tools to take control of their health earlier.
If, as the Health Minister has suggested, the UK aims to adopt elements of Japan’s proactive healthcare model, then embracing health tech is vital.
By shifting from a reactive to a preventative mindset, we can not only improve men’s health outcomes but also reduce the long-term strain on the NHS
Prostate Cancer Research
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK, with approximately 55,000 new cases reported annually, and is also the second-most-deadly cancer among men.
As a country we are lagging far behind our European neighbours in the detection and treatment of this disease, with unacceptably large – and growing – numbers of men dying unnecessarily every year.
However, the significant technological advances in prostate cancer detection and treatment that we’ve seen over the past five years – from new MRI scanning tech to robotic prostate surgery innovations – have the potential to fundamentally change the prostate cancer landscape.
The risks of overdiagnosis and overtreatment are finally being outweighed by the significant health and socio-economic benefits of screening for high risk groups.
Now is the moment for the government to engage with new research and data, champion the adoption of new technologies into the diagnostic pathway and pursue the launch of a targeted national prostate cancer screening programme.
Paul Sayer, Founder, Prost8 UK
The launch of a men’s health strategy is long overdue and urgently needed.
Prostate cancer has now overtaken breast cancer as the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the UK. Yet the national approach to men’s health remains reactive rather than proactive.
If we are serious about improving men’s health outcomes, we must embrace these evidence-based technologies, improve early diagnosis, and ensure equitable access to modern treatments.
Every man should have the right to be informed of all his options – and to choose a path that doesn’t compromise his quality of life.
