Women’s Health: Often Overlooked & Underfunded

07 May Women’s Health: Often Overlooked & Underfunded

When we think about the gender gap, we often think about it in terms of salaries, childcare responsibilities, or in politics. However, there’s one area that’s often overlooked – health. 🏥 Women’s health continues to be undervalued, creating a gender gap when it comes to research, funding and healthcare provision, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. ♀️ Despite women accounting for half of the global population and making many personal and family healthcare and economic decisions, their health is often disregarded as a niche issue. ❕ In fact, just 9 conditions account for one-third of women’s health gaps: menopause, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), endometriosis, maternal hypertensive disorder, post-partum haemorrhage, migraine, ischaemic heart disease, cervical cancer and breast cancer. ❕ PMS, menopause, maternal health conditions, cervical cancer and endometriosis make up 14% of the women’s health burden but *received less than 1% of cumulative research funding* allocated to conditions that drove the women’s health gap between 2019 and 2023. This is unacceptable and unsustainable. ❕ Much work has been done already but we must continue: • Addressing systemic inequities in women’s health by highlighting the gaps and committing to efforts to close it. • Improving data availability, research, care delivery and effectiveness of care for women’s health. • Lifting up women’s voices and emboldening their leadership in this space. 🏦 Women deserve better choices and resources when it comes to their health, and it’s a collective responsibility – for everyone, not just women – to ensure that they receive them. Source • weforum.org