As advances in medical care rapidly emerge year by year, one critical area remains underfunded and under-researched: women’s health. Women make up 49.6% of the global population, yet continue to face glaring disparities in healthcare research and innovation. For society to improve overall global health and well-being, there is an urgent need to address and fix these inequities.
“Underfunding women’s health research has consequences 10-20 years down the road,” says Gloria Kolb, Founder and CEO of Elidah, a company focused on women’s healthcare. Kolb cites a lack of animal models for women’s healthcare as leading to a lack of testing, development, and new innovations in the future.
It is evident that the gaps in women’s healthcare research and innovation need to be addressed immediately. Here, we look at the reasons for the disparities and what can be done, from an expert viewpoint, to bridge the gaps and spark future innovation.
Chronically underfunded
Despite significant advances in healthcare making headlines, women’s healthcare specifically remains chronically underfunded. In fact, as of 2020, only 10.8% of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding was allocated for women’s research. This persistent lack of funding has led to gaps in understanding and addressing health issues faced by women.
“Underfunding women’s health research leads to increased chronic disease states, morbidity, and mortality,” says Dr. Sulagna Misra, MD, BCMAS, Founding Physician at Misra Wellness. “Everyone is about innovation. Innovation is needed, specifically in female healthcare.”
While there are opportunities to make a difference in the healthcare space for women with more funding, women’s issues are often relegated to the back of the line behind issues that disproportionately affect men, such as HIV/AIDS or substance abuse.
Experts agree that what is needed is a significant push toward funding.
The importance of investing in women’s health
Investing in women’s health is not just a moral imperative; it’s necessary for the overall well-being of society. “The most significant consequence of underfunding women’s health research is the impact it has on families and communities where women are depended upon to lead,” says Dr. Mona Jhaveri, founder and director of Music Beats Cancer. Kolb also agrees: “Women are the caretakers of society. They care for the family, are at the core of social injustice movements and volunteerism, and keep families connected. Yet they are also in pain or suffer ailments with inadequate treatments.”
“If we don’t do any investigating and ask questions, then we don’t even know what we need to look into, which is a HUGE statement,” says Dr. Misra. From cardiovascular disease that can present differently in women than men to a litany of misunderstood and often misdiagnosed autoimmune conditions, there exists a lot of mystery in women’s healthcare. These mysteries remain shrouded by lack of funding.
“Increased funding help would support clinical trials that are exclusively designed to address the unique health challenges of women,” explains Dr. Jhaveri. “Increased funding would also support the development of more at-home diagnostics, more over-the-counter treatments and more medical tools tailored to women according to their age, ethnicity and socio-economic backgrounds.”
One of the most significant factors in increasing necessary funding for women’s health is the involvement of women in every step of the process, from funding to research to the development of innovation and treatment. “Strategies to increase investments in women’s health research must involve incentives that enable women to be the decision-makers of these investments. Investors tend to invest in solutions that address a “lived experience.” If men dominate the investment community, research and development in women’s health will be overlooked,” says Dr. Jhaveri.
Still, female leaders in the medical space can run up against roadblocks based on old mindsets. “Even after clinical studies, even after FDA clearance, even after we got to profitability, Elidah could not receive large VC funding. We were told we were in a niche area. We were told the market wasn’t big enough. We were told the market was too crowded,” says Kolb, whose company focuses on incontinence issues. Education dissemination is necessary to make it clear that women’s issues are not “niche” issues. They are real, widespread, and in need of attention and innovative solutions.
Executive orders and going forward
In March of 2024, President Biden issued an executive order that included new actions to advance women’s health research and innovation. The order seeks to prioritize women’s health across federal research portfolios and to increase funding by $12 billion. This influx of attention and funds from the federal government goes a long way toward bettering outcomes for women, but it must be maintained and bolstered by the involvement of female leaders at every level.
“We need more women leaders, and we need diverse women,” says Dr. Misra. Other experts concur.
“It is great that President Biden has set aside new funding for women’s health, but it’s not enough. For private investment, we need more women investors and awareness,” says Kolb.
The call for increased funding for women’s health research and innovation has been heard by the current administration, but as Gloria Kolb mentions, it may not be enough. The call for increased funding is necessary and urgent. Addressing the chronic underfunding of women’s healthcare needs is not simply about rectifying historical inequities. Instead, it is about investing in and securing a healthier future for all.
Women are essential in keeping society functioning. It is high time we prioritize their healthcare needs by championing the funding necessary to make groundbreaking advancements that will benefit all. The ripple effect of increased funding and the involvement of female investors, researchers, doctors, and stakeholders extends far beyond the individual. Healthier women lead to healthier families, stronger communities, and more robust economies.
A profound impact can be made in women’s healthcare through policy change, private sector investment, and a shift in venture capital mindset. By committing to the cause and following the lead of experts, we can ensure that women receive the care they need and future generations inherit a world where equity in healthcare is a reality.
*The San Francisco Weekly newsroom and editorial were not involved in the creation of this content.
