Inclusive collaboration for the future of women’s health

• Written by: Ramatu Umar Bako —
• Published: 21st January 2026

The ALLIANCE’s Women’s Health Lived Experience Group reflect on their input to Phase 2 of the Scottish Government’s Women’s Health Plan.

My motivation for joining The ALLIANCE’s Women’s Health Plan Lived Experience Group comes from a deep personal and professional commitment to improving health equity and ensuring that women’s voices are truly at the centre of health and social care design. Having worked in the health and social care sector for several years, I have seen firsthand how social, economic, and cultural inequalities continue to shape women’s experiences of care, influencing not only how services are accessed but also how women’s needs and perspectives are understood.

I wanted to be part of a space where lived experience is recognised as expertise. The Lived Experience Group offered that opportunity, a collective of diverse women bringing their experiences, insights, and courage to inform meaningful change. It felt important to contribute to a process where the realities of women’s everyday lives are heard and reflected in Scotland’s Women’s Health Plan.

My involvement with the ALLIANCE’s Community of Practice on the Right to Health has been particularly influential in shaping how I approach this work. Through this network, I’ve deepened my understanding of how structural inequalities from race and income to geography and disability intersect to impact health outcomes. The learning and dialogue within this community have reinforced my belief that effective health policy must be rooted in the lived realities of those it aims to serve. Alongside this, my participation in public and patient advisory groups focused on digital innovation has given me a broader appreciation of the role that emerging technologies can play in shaping the future of women’s health.

Contributing to the development of Phase 2 of the Women’s Health Plan and taking part in the in-person development days have been both inspiring and affirming. These sessions created a space for open and honest discussion, where lived experience was not tokenised but genuinely valued. I found it particularly rewarding to collaborate with women from different backgrounds and communities, sharing stories and insights that highlighted both the diversity and commonality of women’s health experiences in Scotland. The facilitators’ thoughtful approach through encouraging reflection, mutual respect, and co-learning made the process feel both inclusive and purposeful.

What I have most appreciated throughout this journey is the sense of collective purpose; the feeling of being part of something bigger than oneself. The Women’s Health Plan process has shown me that when lived experience, research, and policy come together, real transformation becomes possible. It has been empowering to contribute to a process that not only listens to women but acts on what is heard. I leave each meeting encouraged, hopeful, and reminded that inclusive collaboration is the foundation of lasting change in women’s health.

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