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Men in England die nearly four years earlier than women on average and are disproportionately affected by several health conditions, writes Victoria Goldman…

In April 2025, the government launched a 12-week call for evidence to gather insights for England’s first-ever national Men’s Health Strategy.

This followed the government’s first Men’s Health Summit held in partnership with Movember in November 2024, co-hosted by Arsenal and Premier League.

The government is looking at how to prevent and tackle the biggest health issues facing men from all backgrounds and how to close the life expectancy gap between men and women.

45.8 per cent of women compared to 33.5 per cent of men tried to contact their GP practice 

Men in England die nearly four years earlier than women, on average, and all men are disproportionately affected by several health conditions including cancer, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Suicide is the biggest cause of death in men under the age of 50.

The government also wants to improve men’s access to, engagement with, and experience of, the health service. The Office for National Statistics (ONS)’s “Experiences of NHS healthcare services in England” survey published in April 2025 found that 45.8 percent of women compared to just 33.5 percent of men had attempted to make contact with their GP practice for themselves or someone else in their household in the previous 28 days.

According to Global Action on Men’s Health’s “No Man’s Land” report in December 2024, men are less likely to use primary healthcare services because they are reluctant to ask for help, but also because they encounter practical barriers, such as inconvenient opening times, difficult-to-navigate appointment booking systems and long waiting times. 

Pharmacy access

The ONS “Experiences of NHS healthcare services in England” survey also found that 43.8 percent of women compared to just 34.9 percent of men had used a pharmacy for NHS services in the previous 28 days.

Fewer men than women used a pharmacy for prescriptions, blood pressure checks, discussions about prescribed medicines and advice on minor ailments.

Professor Paul Galdas, professor of men’s health at the Department of Health Sciences, University of York, says that pharmacies could play a more valuable role in supporting men’s health.

“No appointments, no referrals, no barriers – that makes them an ideal place for early conversations, especially with men who might not go to a GP until a problem becomes serious,” he says.

“In a national Men’s Health Strategy, pharmacists could help spot issues early, offer practical advice, and connect men with further support. Just as importantly, they could help make health conversations feel normal and routine for men.”

Offering routine health checks through pharmacies would help to encourage more men to take control of their health. Professor Galdas says that a brief chat across the pharmacy counter or a friendly check-in can open the door to conversations.

“Trust is key,” he says. “For many men, talking about health can feel uncomfortable or unfamiliar. Pharmacists can lower the pressure by keeping things informal, straightforward, practical and private. That kind of approach helps build confidence over time.”

Peter Baker, director at Global Action on Men’s Health, says that there’s still a need to show men that community pharmacies can support them.

“Working age men in particular use GP services far less than women, due to lack of accessibility,” he says, “yet they are often unaware of the pharmacy as an alternative. They may simply see a pharmacy as a place to get medicines, rather than a source of health advice.

“They may not be aware of pharmacy health checks or realise that they can see a pharmacist in a private consultation room.”

Targeted support

In the UK, men from ethnic minorities often experience significant health disparities compared to their white counterparts.

Black men in England are twice as likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and men from Indian or Bangladeshi backgrounds are at a higher risk of diabetes.

Professor Galdas says men often view health differently depending on their cultural background. “For some men, health concerns are kept private or only acted on when symptoms are severe,” he says.

“Even small things such as inclusive posters or health materials showing men from those communities can send the message that pharmacy is a space where they are welcome.

“Where there is a significant language gap, linking to video or audio resources in other languages through QR codes or community group partnerships could be effective, leveraging tech solutions where possible.”

Pharmacy services such as NHS Pharmacy First, Common Ailments Scheme or the NHS Hypertension Case-Finding Service are already helping to engage men. But Alwyn Fortune, RPS policy and engagement officer, says that more tailored initiatives – such as prostate cancer awareness or mental health support – could better engage men in communities where some health topics may be considered taboo.

“Working with local community leaders to run education sessions or outreach events can engage those less likely to visit a pharmacy,” he says.

“Practical steps, such as using translation services, offering multilingual medication leaflets or hiring multilingual staff, can help break down language barriers.”

Overcoming barriers

Peter Baker says that pharmacists still need to do more to market themselves to encourage men to seek their advice.

“Online pharmacy training materials, such as CPPE’s men’s health learning module, provide a great opportunity to improve awareness and understanding of the main barriers to discussing health with men,” he says.

“In general, pharmacy teams should have a conversation with men as soon as they come into the pharmacy. It can be difficult if the pharmacy is very busy, but it’s about making every contact count.”

According to Professor Galdas, in general, men tend to respond better to simple action-focused messages. “The message should be clear, practical and relevant,” he says.

“So instead of ‘health advice available’, something like ‘Worried about blood pressure? We can check it in ten minutes’ is more likely to cut through. Visibility matters too. That means putting information where men already spend time, such as gyms, workplaces, sports clubs, places of worship or barbershops.”

Linking window displays to Men’s Health Week (in June) or Movember could help to raise awareness. “Look for those little hooks,” says Peter Baker.

“For example, it may help to show products relevant to men, such shaving equipment or protein powder, even though these may be cheaper to buy from supermarkets.

“Smaller community pharmacies may be more effective at promoting men’s health messages than the big pharmacy chains, which typically have beauty products and cosmetics at the front and the pharmacy counter right at the back where the health messages can’t be seen.”