14 May 2025

The MMD Group is delighted to welcome Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Sirpa Pietikäinen (EPP, Finland) as a new member. MEP Pietikäinen serves as a Member of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON), the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) and the Delegation for relations with the Pan-African Parliament (DPAP). She also serves as a Substitute member of the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI), the Committee on Public Health (SANT) and the Delegation for relations with the People’s Republic of China (D-CN).

Before being elected as Member of the European Parliament, Sirpa Pietikäinen was Finland’s Minister of Environment from 1991 to 1995 and a Member of the Finnish Parliament from 1983 to 2003. MEP Sirpa Pietikäinen has served in the European Parliament since 2008.

As a member of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) and substitute member of the Committee on Public Health (SANT), she is actively engaged in promoting gender equality, including tackling gender-based health disparities.

Women face distinct biological and physiological challenges that significantly impact their health outcomes. Hormonal fluctuations linked to menstrual cycles and menopause can complicate blood glucose management, increasing the risk of diabetes-related complications. Although diabetes is slightly more prevalent among men, women are disproportionately affected by poorer health outcomes. They are diagnosed on average 4.5 years later than men, face a 13% higher risk of all-cause mortality and a 30% higher risk of cardiovascular mortality. Pregnancy is a major source of risk for the mother and the unborn child, both for women with pre-existing diabetes before their pregnancy and for women who develop gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) during their pregnancy. Up to 50% of women with GDM will develop type 2 diabetes within five years and their children are six times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes and childhood obesity. The mental health burden of diabetes also weighs more heavily on women, who are twice as likely as men to suffer from depression and anxiety related to the condition.

These disparities highlight the urgent need to close the gender health gap and address the systemic barriers women continue to face. More needs to be done—at both EU and national level—to implement gender-responsive health policies.

As a longstanding champion of the MMD Group, MEP Pietikäinen continues to advocate for stronger prevention, care and research efforts that take into account the specific needs of women and girls.

We wish to thank MEP Pietikäinen for her unwavering support and we look forward to working closely with her to join forces in driving meaningful change and ensuring that no woman or girl is left behind in Europe’s health response.