{"id":378639,"date":"2026-04-09T00:39:44","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T00:39:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wacoca.com\/life\/378639\/"},"modified":"2026-04-09T00:39:44","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T00:39:44","slug":"less-than-one-in-ten-dollars-of-private-healthcare-investment-is-spent-on-womens-health-new-report-finds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wacoca.com\/life\/378639\/","title":{"rendered":"Less than One in Ten Dollars of Private Healthcare Investment Is Spent on Women\u2019s Health, New Report Finds"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Women\u2019s Health Receives Only 6% of Private Healthcare Investment, Despite Women Accounting for Nearly Half the World’s Population, According to the World Economic Forum\u2019s 2026 Women’s Health Investment Outlook, Published in Collaboration with BCGThe Limited Available Funds Mainly Flow into Women\u2019s Cancers, Reproductive Health, and Maternal Health, While Other High-Burden, High-Prevalence Conditions that Impact Women Uniquely, Differently, or Disproportionately, Remain UnderfundedThe Report Shows Growing Investment Momentum, but a Lack of Focus on Many Conditions Such as Cardiovascular Disease, Osteoporosis, Menopause, and Alzheimer\u2019s Which Could Unlock More than $100 Billion in Market Value<\/p>\n

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND\u2014Women\u2019s health only receives 6% of private health care investment, or less than one in ten dollars, despite women representing almost half of the global population. Of these limited funds, 90% flow into just three areas: women\u2019s cancers, reproductive health, and maternal health, leaving other high-burden, high-prevalence conditions that impact women uniquely, differently, or disproportionally, undercapitalized. Low- and middle-income countries are disproportionately affected by this funding gap.<\/p>\n

Not only does this put women\u2019s health at stake, but it also represents unrealized economic opportunity. These are the headline findings of the inaugural <\/p>\n

Women\u2019s Health Investment Outlook<\/a><\/p>\n

from the <\/p>\n

World Economic Forum<\/a><\/p>\n

in collaboration with Boston Consulting Group (BCG), which aims to better understand the investment landscape and opportunities in women\u2019s health.<\/p>\n

Tapping Into a $100 Billion Opportunity<\/p>\n

Women live longer than men but spend 25% more time in poor health or with a disability, reflecting the cumulative impact of conditions that affect women uniquely (biologically specific), differently (with distinct symptoms or disease progression), or disproportionately (at higher rates than men), eroding not just wellbeing but workforce participation.<\/p>\n

\u201cMen\u2019s health has long been the default baseline for research and product development, with clinical standards, trial designs, and innovation pipelines often calibrated to male physiology and needs,\u201d said Shyam Bishen, Head, Centre for Health and Healthcare, World Economic Forum. \u201cThis approach systematically sidelines conditions that affect women uniquely, differently, or disproportionately, leaving critical areas underfunded, under-researched, and underserved.\u201d<\/p>\n

The narrow focus of investment in women\u2019s health issues has meant that other high-prevalence conditions that affect women and put a significant strain on health systems have been underfunded for many years. These include cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, menopause, and Alzheimer\u2019s. Based on a recent <\/p>\n

BCG report<\/a><\/p>\n

, these four areas alone represent more than $100 billion in potential market by 2030 if all women received the standard of care.<\/p>\n

Other underrepresented areas impacting women uniquely, such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and menstrual health, affect tens of millions of women but receive less than 2% of women\u2019s health investment, the report finds.<\/p>\n

Building Investment Momentum for Women\u2019s Health<\/p>\n

The report also identifies the following areas where current activity and conditions for growth indicate readiness for investment:<\/p>\n

Women\u2019s cancer therapeuticsVirtual women\u2019s healthcare and benefits managementRemote maternal health monitoringWomen-focused mental health platformsWomen-first longevity and wellness concierge servicesWearable devices and platforms for women\u2019s metabolic health<\/p>\n

\u201cThe good news is that investment momentum is building; investors now see women\u2019s health as a growth frontier, not just a niche,\u201d said Trish Stroman, Managing Director and Senior Partner at BCG. \u201cThe in-vitro fertilization market exemplifies this, showing how aligning science and technology breakthroughs with rising demand and reimbursement certainty can unlock a high-growth industry.\u201d<\/p>\n

To replicate this success, the report suggests collaborative efforts to expand the evidence base in women\u2019s health and increase transparency around outcomes and economic returns. Additional recommendations include derisking investment through blended finance from public, private and philanthropic sources. The authors also urge industry players in related areas to expand into women\u2019s health. Further, extending reimbursement for treatments and modernizing regulatory frameworks can lower entry barriers for new initiatives.<\/p>\n

Media Contacts:
World Economic Forum: Dawn Rowan – <\/p>\n

dawn.rowan@weforum.org<\/a><\/p>\n

BCG: Eric Gregoire \u2013 <\/p>\n

gregoire.eric@bcg.com<\/a><\/p>\n

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About the Women\u2019s Health Investment Outlook<\/p>\n

The Women\u2019s Health Investment Outlook emphasizes the economic and societal value of investing in women\u2019s health. It calls on investors, policymakers, and public and private-sector organizations in global healthcare to take targeted action to unlock scale and opportunity in women\u2019s health. It is led by the World Economic Forum\u2019s Centre for Health and Healthcare, Boston Consulting Group, and the Women’s Health Investment Consortium, which plans to unite global investors with innovators to encourage and enable responsible investments in women’s health.<\/p>\n

About the Annual Meeting 2026<\/p>\n

The World Economic Forum\u2019s 56th Annual Meeting, taking place on 19-23 January 2026 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, will convene leaders from business, government, international organizations, civil society, and academia under the theme A Spirit of Dialogue. Click <\/p>\n

here<\/a><\/p>\n

to learn more.<\/p>\n

The Forum provides a global, impartial, not-for-profit platform and insights to support meaningful connections between political, business, academic, civil society, and other leaders.
(<\/p>\n

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