Despite living longer, women face more health issues By HPN Staff Decades of underfunding and a narrow focus on reproductive care have left major gaps in whole-person treatment, leading to worse health care outcomes for women, experts say. A new report from the Global Alliance for Women’s Health highlights persistent gaps in women’s health and offers policy recommendations to unlock innovation and close the healthcare gender gap between men and women. Why it matters Women outlive men by about five years on average but spend significantly more of their lives in poor health or with a disability. Experts say this disconnect is rooted in outdated research norms and structural blind spots in the healthcare system. “We need to stop dividing women into their body parts and understand that women’s health includes conditions that affect their entire body over the course of their life,” said Anna Bode, principal for health care and life sciences at Kearney. While interest in women’s health is growing among policymakers, insurers and researchers, experts say deeper, structural change is still needed. Research design often fails to account for biological differences that affect how women experience disease and respond to treatment. Providers and insurers tend to treat symptoms in isolation rather than supporting comprehensive, whole-person care. By the numbers Women spend 25% more of their lives in poor health or with disability than men. Just 7% of global health research focuses on conditions unique to women. Women are underrepresented in clinical trials, especially in early-stage studies and in critical areas like cardiology and cancer. Expanding investment in women’s health could generate $1 trillion in global economic gains annually by 2040, while lowering long-term health care costs. The bigger picture The Alliance’s report outlines a multi-pronged approach to drive change: Incentivize innovation with public and private investment Expand clinical trial inclusion, with studies specifically designed for women Leverage better data to understand sex-based differences in care and outcomes Some insurers are responding by prioritizing “clinical excellence” in women’s health, emphasizing whole-person care instead of treating symptoms in isolation. Advocates hope targeted investment and bold policy changes can finally move women’s health beyond reproduction — and into the center of the health care conversation.
