$1 Trillion Opportunity: Closing the Women's Health Gap

For too long, women's health has been treated as secondary. The latest report by the World Economic Forum, in collaboration with the McKinsey Health Institute, reveals the stark reality: women spend 25% more of their lives in poor health than men. But this isn't just a health issue; it's an economic one. The "Blueprint to Close the Women's Health Gap" unveils an astonishing $1 trillion opportunity to boost the global GDP by addressing this disparity. This isn't just about adding years to life; it's about adding healthy years - seven extra healthy days a year.

Did you know women spend 25% more of their lives in poor health compared to men. Closing this gap could unlock 75 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) annually and $1 trillion in annual global GDP.

The report identifies nine key conditions that account for a third of the women’s health gap:

Conditions Affecting Lifespan:

  • Ischaemic heart disease

  • Cervical cancer

  • Breast cancer

  • Maternal hypertensive disorders

  • Post-partum haemorrhage

Conditions Affecting Health Span:

  • Menopause and perimenopause

  • Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

  • Migraine

  • Endometriosis

Endometriosis affects one in 10 women between the ages of 15 and 45 – at least 190 million women globally. It represents potential estimated gains of 0.25 million annual DALYs and $12 billion in annual GDP in the women’s health gap.

According to the report we can close the gap by focusing on:

  1. Counting women: Improving data collection and sex- and gender-based data.

  2. Studying women: Increasing research funding for women's health and sex-based differences.

  3. Caring for women: Implementing clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) that reflect best practices for women.

  4. Including all women: Addressing health disparities and promoting global health equity.

  5. Investing in women: Increasing funding in research, education, care delivery, and innovative interventions

The data is clear: investing in women's health is not just the right thing to do, it's the smart thing to do. By focusing on the nine key conditions identified and implementing targeted interventions, we can achieve significant improvements in both health outcomes and economic growth.

Affi Parvizi-Wayne