Bridging the Women's Health Gap

The Urgent Need for Change

Women’s Health isn’t a niche issue. It concerns the health of half the population. And yet, the gender gap in healthcare remains overlooked. Women’s Health issues have historically been under-researched, marginalised, and underserved.

This systemic neglect has led to disparities in diagnosis, treatment, and overall health outcomes for women. Addressing these gaps is not just a matter of equality, it is a matter of equity and scientific necessity.

The Male Default in Medicine

On the face of it, it seems obvious that men and women are biologically different, and yet historically women have been excluded from medical research, leading to the assumption that female health outcomes mirror those of men.  It wasn’t until 1993 that the U.S. Congress passed the NIH Inclusion Policy, requiring women and minorities to be included in clinical research. Even today, although inclusion is mandated, there is no requirement for data to be analysed by sex, meaning that crucial differences in how diseases manifest and respond to treatment in women remain unexamined.

This oversight has serious consequences. Most medications, including everyday drugs, such as aspirin, were tested on male physiology, leading to incorrect dosages and a higher risk of adverse reactions for women. When women aren’t adequately represented in trials, the questions remain today: are these treatments truly safe and effective?

The Misrepresentation of Women’s Health

The concept of ‘Women’s Health’ has long been narrowly defined as reproductive health, focusing on pregnancy, gynecological care, and breast cancer screenings. While these are important, this limited view ignores the full spectrum of conditions affecting women.

To truly advance Women's Health, we must also confront the conditions that affect women differently and disproportionately. These disparities shape the quality, accessibility, and effectiveness of the care received.

Cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death for women, can present differently in female patients, often leading to misdiagnosis. Women experiencing heart attacks are more likely to be dismissed as suffering from anxiety due to implicit biases in the healthcare system. Similarly, chronic pain, which primarily affects women, is routinely underdiagnosed and undertreated, with women more likely to be prescribed sedatives rather than pain management solutions.

Data Gaps and Underfunding

The lack of sex-specific data in medical research leads to a dangerous cycle of misinformation and inadequate care. In 2020, only one percent of healthcare research and innovation funding was invested in female-specific conditions beyond oncology. Even in disease-specific research, glaring inequalities persist.  Two-thirds of Alzheimer’s Disease patients are women, yet only 12% of NIH funding for research into Alzheimer’s is dedicated to studying its impact on women.

Beyond funding, healthcare prioritisation often leans toward mortality rates rather than quality of life. Women, who experience a greater burden of chronic illnesses, are frequently left out of research that could improve long-term health outcomes. The result is a medical system that fails to recognise, research, and respond to the specific needs of female patients.

Intersectionality and Amplified Disparities

The gender health gap is even wider for women who belong to multiple underserved groups. Black women, for instance, face greater health disparities than their white counterparts due to both racial and gender biases. Implicit biases in medicine have perpetuated harmful myths, such as the belief that Black patients have a higher pain tolerance, leading to delayed treatment and inadequate pain management. Women from lower socioeconomic backgrounds also experience greater barriers to healthcare, making it harder to access early diagnosis and effective treatment.

The Future of Women’s Health: A Shared Responsibility

The medical system has historically failed women, but acknowledging these failures is the first step toward meaningful change. Women’s Health must be recognised as an urgent research priority,

with policies and funding that reflect the needs of half the population. This is not just a women’s issue—it is a public health issue that affects everyone.

A Call to Action: Let’s Talk, Educate, and Advocate

To address these challenges, we must act collectively.

• Start the conversation. In your organisation, at your workplace, or in casual discussions with colleagues. Start talking about Women’s Health. Break the silence around topics like menopause and endometriosis and help normalise these conversations in both clinical and corporate settings.
• Ask more questions and demand answers. Don’t accept statistics as interesting facts, demand to know what is being done to address it. As scientists and innovators, challenge the status quo and fill the data gaps in female healthcare.
• Engage in lifelong learning about Women’s Health issues and leadership challenges. The more informed we all are, the better equipped we will be to make a positive difference.
• Join networks and initiatives. Get involved with organisations and networks that are working to change the landscape for women in healthcare. Support initiatives that focus on research in Women’s Health, workplace equality, and leadership advancement.

We have a collective responsibility to bridge the gender health gap. This means demanding better research, amplifying women’s voices in healthcare leadership, and ensuring that future generations of women receive the care and medical attention they deserve. The time for change is now.