The Association of British HealthTech Industries’ report Women’s Health: Time to Listen. Time to Act. highlights a persistent and systemic gap in how women’s health is understood, prioritised and addressed across healthcare systems. Women spend a significantly greater proportion of their lives in poor health than men, yet research, clinical pathways and product development have historically been shaped around male biology and data. This mismatch has contributed to delayed diagnoses, poorer outcomes and missed opportunities for effective prevention and early intervention.
The report makes a clear case that improving women’s health is not only a matter of equity, but also one of economic and societal value. By strengthening sex-specific data collection, embedding women’s lived experience into service design, and accelerating investment in women-focused health innovation, there is potential to improve productivity, reduce pressure on health services and unlock substantial economic gains.
For the Thames Valley, with its strong base in life sciences, MedTech and health innovation, the report underscores the opportunity for businesses, policymakers and healthcare leaders to play a role in closing the women’s health gap. Aligning innovation, research and investment with unmet need in women’s health could support regional growth while contributing to better long-term outcomes for individuals and communities.
Read more about the report here.
