WEF’s “Blueprint to Close the Women’s Health Gap” Report

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has released a report denoting the economic potential of addressing women’s health issues. Titled “Blueprint to Close the Women’s Health Gap,” the report reveals that improving women’s health could contribute an estimated $400 billion to global GDP by 2040. It identifies nine critical health conditions impacting women’s lives and puts stress on the need for targeted research and investment.

Women’s Health Disparities

Women experience 25% more years of poor health compared to men. This disparity is largely due to insufficient research and funding focused on women-specific health conditions. The report indicates that women are often overlooked in clinical trials, particularly in areas like ischemic heart disease and migraine, where only 10% include sex-specific data.

Key Health Conditions Identified

The report categorises nine health conditions into two groups – lifespan and health span conditions.

• Lifespan conditions include maternal hypertensive disorders, postpartum hemorrhage, ischemic heart disease, cervical cancer, and breast cancer.
• Health span conditions focus on endometriosis, menopause, migraine, and premenstrual syndrome.

Addressing these conditions could lead to 2.5 additional healthy days per woman annually.

Women’s Health Impact Tracking (WHIT)

The WEF, in collaboration with the McKinsey Health Institute, launched the Women’s Health Impact Tracking (WHIT) platform. This publicly available tool aims to measure health disparities and promote equitable solutions. It provides data-driven insights that highlight the urgent need for investment in menopause, premenstrual syndrome, and migraine, which together represent a $315 billion GDP opportunity.

Importance of Data and Research

The report stresses the need for improved data collection and research funding for women-specific health issues. It marks that 54% of the women’s health burden occurs in low- and middle-income countries, yet only 23% of clinical trials focus on these regions. More comprehensive data can expose the true extent of women’s health challenges.

Five Key Actions for Stakeholders

To address the disparities in women’s health, the report outlines five essential actions

1. Count Women: Enhance data collection to reveal the true burden of women’s health issues.
2. Study Women: Increase funding for research focused on women-specific health conditions.
3. Care for Women: Develop clinical guidelines that cater to women’s unique healthcare needs.
4. Include All Women: Tackle disparities affecting marginalised groups to promote health equity.
5. Invest in Women: Allocate funding for innovative healthcare solutions and delivery models.

Month: Current Affairs - January, 2025

Category: Reports & Indexes Current Affairs