Women face deeply entrenched disparities in healthcare - from later diagnoses and under-treatment to limited research into conditions uniquely affecting them. Globally, women spend about 25% more time in poor health than men - translating into 75 million years lost annually due to ill health or early death World Economic Forum+1.
These disparities have staggering implications: only 1% of healthcare innovation funding goes toward female-specific conditions beyond oncology World Economic Forum+1.
Yet, the solution offers both societal and economic upside. Closing this gap could yield an estimated $1 trillion in global economic gains annually by 2040 - roughly, investing $1 in women’s health could return $3 in economic growth World Economic Forum+1.
Why STEM Matters
Barrier after barrier in women’s healthcare stems from a lack of tailored innovation and gender-sensitive research, many of which can be addressed when women lead or collaborate in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.
The article underscores that having women healthcare providers can lead to better outcomes, including lower mortality and re-admission rates. Encouraging girls to pursue STEM isn't just empowering - it’s foundational to health equity World Economic Forum.
A path forward: the global alliance & data-driven tools
Global momentum has coalesced around the World Economic Forum’s “Global Alliance for Women’s Health”, backed by 42 partners and $55 million in commitments, aiming to spur research, investment, and inclusive healthcare priorities World Economic Forum.
Building on this, the Women’s Health Impact Tracking (WHIT) platform launched in early 2025, alongside the Blueprint to Close the Women’s Health Gap report. The initiative focuses on nine key conditions - including menopause, PMS, migraine, and maternal health - estimated to account for one-third of the women’s health burden. Addressing them could reduce the global burden by 27 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and add 2.5 healthy days per woman each year, contributing up to $400 billion in GDP gains annually by 2040, World Economic Forum+2World Economic Forum+2.
Five key actions to close the gap
Authors Shyam Bishen (WEF) and Lucy Pérez (McKinsey) outline a practical framework:
- Count women - capture more robust, gender-specific data.
- Study women - enhance research funding and clinical guidelines.
- Care for women - tailor service delivery to women’s needs.
- Invest in women - prioritise funding for female-specific conditions.
- Include women - ensure women are integrated in research, leadership, and innovation World Economic Forum.
Sources & References
- World Economic Forum (2024, October 14).
Why getting more girls into STEM is key to closing the gender health gap.
https://www.weforum.org/stories/2024/10/women-health-gap-healthcare-gender - World Economic Forum (2025, January).
Healthier women, stronger economies: The case for investing in women’s health.
https://www.weforum.org/press/2025/01/healthier-women-stronger-economies-the-case-for-investing-in-women-s-health - World Economic Forum (2024, January).
WEF24: New Global Alliance for Women’s Health could boost global economy by $1 trillion annually by 2040.
https://www.weforum.org/press/2024/01/wef24-new-global-alliance-for-womens-health-could-boost-global-economy-by-1-trillion-annually-by-2040 - World Economic Forum (2025).
How addressing nine women’s health conditions could boost the global economy by $400 billion.
https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/01/how-addressing-nine-women-s-health-conditions-could-boost-the-global-economy-by-400-billion - TIME Magazine (2024).
Women are still under-represented in medical research. Here’s where the gender gap is most pronounced.
https://time.com/7171341/gender-gap-medical-research - Teen Vogue (2024).
The Gates Foundation is trying to make women healthier — and they need help.
https://www.teenvogue.com/story/the-gates-foundation-make-women-healthier