Shannon Kowalski’s Post

What is the women's health gap? The World Economic Forum article highlights disparities between women's and men's health. In collaboration with the McKinsey Health Institute, the World Economic Forum released a report indicating "women spend 25% more time in ‘poor health’ compared to men," which underscores the urgency of addressing health gaps. The article identifies health conditions that are frequently misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed in women, with a couple that were surprising to me, such as antimicrobial resistance and ADHD. Improving and investing in women’s health to address these gaps isn't just the right thing to do; it also has the potential to boost the economy. #womenshealth https://lnkd.in/g99fSp3j

Dr. Lucy Pérez (former cancer researcher and McKinsey Health Institute senior partner) was interviewed on NPR Marketplace this morning about a recently released McKinsey report illustrating the significant health gap for women relative to men as measured in disability-adjusted life years (DALYS). The health improvement potential (i.e. addressing the 25% more time women spend in "poor health" relative to men) was translated to economic potential, as measured by potential contribution to gross domestic product (GDP), and was estimated to be about $1 trillion annually by 2040. https://lnkd.in/g7kGiiaa As Dr. Pérez noted in the NPR interview: "Women’s health across the world is under-researched and underfunded. On average, a woman will spend nine years in poor health, affecting her ability to work and perform in the economy, as well as her overall quality of life." The McKinsey report describes the challenges and opportunities to improve the both health and the economic wellbeing of women. I hope that researchers, funders, healthcare providers, healthcare payers, and policy makers take notice and action. https://lnkd.in/geaaFjkM

McKinsey’s recent report underscores a staggering reality: closing the women’s health gap represents a $𝟏 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 to not only improve lives but also bolster economies. It’s time for a paradigm shift ! At Red drop LAB., we’re acutely aware of the challenges that women face in healthcare: 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲: the frequent exclusion of women from biomedical research has led to a cascade of issues, from misdiagnoses to inappropriate treatments and data-gap in women specific conditions. 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲: geographical barriers, financial constraints, invasive procedures, fear of being judged or having their symptoms dismissed, societal taboos, lack of awareness often result in women withdrawing from their healthcare journey. 𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬: women's health is too often reduced to reproductive health and pregnancy while only accounting for 5% of women's health burden. 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: The lack of funding in women’s health research perpetuates these gaps. But there’s more to the story ! At Red drop LAB., we believe that our ability to collect and collate menstrual blood information at scale will usher in the future for women’s health: 𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝: Menstrual blood is more than just blood ! Menstrual effluent is a valuable, yet underutilized biological material, rich in endometrial tissue, immune cells, microorganisms from the vaginal microbiome and over 300 unique proteins. 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞: With nearly 2 billion menstruating women worldwide experiencing around 450 cycles in a lifetime, we’re looking at 46 billion liters of blood that can be transformed from waste to wonder. Join us as we turn the tide on women’s health, transforming what was once a taboo into a key for unlocking better health outcomes. Together, we can close the health gap and create a world where every woman’s health is valued and understood.

As a member of the World Economic Forum's Global Alliance for Women's Health we are committed to closing the women’s health gap, which could boost the global economy by $1 trillion annually.    Women’s health issues have historically been under-researched, underfunded and undervalued – follow the link for insights from eight global leaders on how we can address some of the most neglected aspects of women’s health: https://lnkd.in/dR4KsagP     #ProjectFamily #WomensHealth #CloseTheWomensHealthGap 

🚺 Bridging the Women’s Health Gap: A Global Imperative McKinsey's recent exploration into the women's health gap reveals significant disparities in access to healthcare, treatments, and outcomes for women around the world.  Women’s health is underserved: Despite making up half the global population, women often receive less healthcare funding and research attention. Economic growth is tied to women’s health: When women have better access to healthcare, they contribute more effectively to the economy. Addressing these gaps could add $1.9 trillion to global GDP by 2040. Country-level differences: Disparities are more pronounced in low- and middle-income countries, but even high-income nations show gaps in reproductive health, mental health, and chronic disease management for women. 🌍 Why does this matter? Improving women’s health is not just a moral obligation but a key driver of societal and economic progress. We need innovative health solutions and cross-sector collaboration to bridge this gap, improve health outcomes, and unlock the full potential of women globally. #WomensHealth #HealthEquity #GlobalHealth #HealthcareInnovation

Did you know that while women, on average, live 1,606 more days than men, they spend 25% more time in poor health? This disparity, highlighted by a McKinsey Health Institute report, stems from gaps in efficacy, data, and care delivery. Imagine the possibilities if we close this gap: each woman could enjoy up to seven more healthy days of life per year, which translates to an astounding $1 trillion in potential economic growth. By bridging this gap, we not only enhance women's health but also create a thriving ripple effect for their families, communities, and the economy at large. Empowering women to be healthier means a brighter, more prosperous future for everyone. #WomensHealth #HealthEquity 

Interesting study that highlights some important topics for every woman. Women's health is a broad and diverse field that encompasses more than just reproductive health. It also covers health issues that are unique to women or that affect women differently or more severely than men. There is a large gap in the health outcomes, research, data, and care delivery for women, resulting in lower quality of life and economic potential for women. This gap could be narrowed by tackling the main sources of inequalities in science, data, and care delivery. Reducing the women’s health gap could have positive impacts on individual lives, society, and the global economy. It could increase the lifespan and well-being of millions of women, as well as potentially increase the global GDP by $1 trillion annually by 2040. From a business perspective, the study's conclusions are clear and evident: - Women's health offers many opportunities for innovation and investment throughout the value chain, from fundamental research to product development to care delivery. A gender-responsive and inclusive approach that considers the needs and preferences of women and girls could enhance these opportunities. - Women's health products and services have a large and expanding market, especially in areas that are now neglected or ignored, such as menopause, endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, and maternal health. - There is also a demand for more accessible and affordable care for women, especially in low- and middle-income countries, where the women’s health gap is more pronounced. This could involve developing alternative models and systems of care delivery, such as telemedicine, mobile health, and women’s health hubs, that are tailored to women’s needs and preferences. - Gender-specific data and research are essential for developing and evaluating interventions that work well and safely for women. This requires using new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and digital health, to produce and examine data.

The McKinsey's report on closing the gap in women's health was such an interesting and insightful read. Lucy Perez and Valentina Sartori also participated to Merck's global event “Inspiring Inclusion: Investing in Women’s Health and Wellbeing” alongside Amy Kao, Jutta Reinhard-Rupp and Megan Greenfield to explain the major myths in women's health. Something new I learned is that there is a misnomer in society that women's health only encompasses women's reproductive health. This in an incomplete vision as women are differently and disproportionately affected in other conditions as well, including cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases.  Biologically, women are not smaller men, and a deeper understanding of the basic science is an essential step to close the health gap. In Amy's words, spread the word, be a myth buster, be empowered with good research. Ultimately, this is not a women's issue; it's everyone's issue - it's basic health. 

"On average, women live longer than men—yet they spend 25% more time in poor health" Shocking statistics from McKinsey & Company 🌍 Women’s health is not a siloed category, but rather one that affects individuals, families, and the economy. ♀ Women’s health encompasses the range of health experiences that affect women uniquely, differently, or disproportionately versus men. 👫 The women’s health gap is the disease burden associated with inequities between women and men in intervention efficacy, care delivery, and data. Closing the women's health gap is something we should ALL care about. It's not just a "women's problem" 🙄 #WomensHealth #FemTech #GenderHealthGap #WomensHealthGap

Did you know that women spend 25% more of their lives in debilitating health compared to men? For many diseases, diagnosis comes later in life for women than for men. This gender health gap results in 75 million years of life lost each year due to poor health or early death. Imagine the impact of closing this gap: the 3.9 billion women worldwide could gain an additional seven healthy days each year, or an average of 500 extra healthy days over a lifetime. Addressing this issue is not just a healthcare imperative but a societal one. By prioritising women's health through better research, improved healthcare access, and increased awareness, we can bridge this gap and enhance the quality of life for millions of women globally. https://lnkd.in/g-EpmHMj