Prescription for Change

The World Economic Forum's report, Prescription for Change: Policy Recommendations for Women’s Health Research, addresses the significant disparities in women's health research and proposes actionable strategies to bridge these gaps.

The Current Landscape of Women's Health Research

Women's health remains under-researched, underfunded, and underrepresented. This neglect affects diagnosis accuracy, treatment efficacy, and overall health outcomes for women. Addressing these disparities is not only an ethical imperative but also essential for advancing scientific robustness and improving global health outcomes.(World Economic Forum, Time)

Collaborative Efforts for Policy Transformation

Developed in collaboration with the Global Alliance for Women’s Health and over 45 organisations spanning industry, regulatory bodies, and other sectors, the report aims to reshape the policy environment surrounding women's health science and innovation. It emphasises the need for systemic changes to foster a more inclusive and supportive research ecosystem.(World Economic Forum)

Key Policy Recommendations

The report outlines several critical policy recommendations:

• Enhance Data Disaggregation: Implement systematic collection and analysis of sex- and gender-specific data to accurately represent women's health burdens and evaluate intervention impacts.(YourStory)

• Expand Inclusion in Clinical Trials: Ensure that clinical trials are designed with women's unique physiological and hormonal profiles in mind, promoting equitable participation.

• Increase Funding for Women-Specific Research: Allocate resources to study female-specific health concerns and sex-based differences, addressing historically underfunded areas.(World Economic Forum)

• Develop Sex-Based Clinical Guidelines: Create and implement clinical guidelines that reflect best practices tailored to women's unique health needs.(World Economic Forum)

• Promote Inclusive Healthcare Policies: Address disparities affecting marginalized groups to achieve broader health equity.(World Economic Forum)

Economic Implications of Closing the Health Gap

Investing in women's health research has significant economic benefits. Closing the health gap could reduce the global disease burden by 27 million disability-adjusted life years annually, adding approximately 2.5 healthy days per woman each year. Moreover, it could unlock $400 billion in global GDP annually by 2040, highlighting the vast potential of investing in health equity.(McKinsey & Company, World Economic Forum)

The Prescription for Change report underscores the urgent need to prioritise women's health research through comprehensive policy reforms. By implementing these recommendations, stakeholders can foster innovation, improve health outcomes for women, and realise substantial economic gains globally.

For more detailed information, you can access the full report here: Prescription for Change: Policy Recommendations for Women’s Health Research.