The journey towards healthcare gender equality has been marked by legislative milestones and grassroots advocacy efforts. Since the landmark National Institutes of Health (NIH) Revitalization Act of 1993, which aimed to include women and underrepresented groups in federally funded studies, the call for gender-specific research and policy measures to address disparities has continued.1 Recent analyses have shed light on the lack of research funding for women's diseases, triggering ongoing media attention on disparities and prompting action across the world. 2,3,4 To celebrate International Women’s Day, this article looks at the policies taking steps to improve healthcare equality and the people driving these changes in funding.
Scrutinizing gender research
Dr. Nanette Wenger's groundbreaking work in cardiovascular medicine catalysed the legislative action in 1993 to include women in clinical trials. Wenger and colleagues highlighted the lack of data in female cardiovascular medicine, although high mortality rates among women were reported.5 Despite legislative advancements since 1993, disparities persisted as neither the NIH nor the FDA required gender specific data to actually be analysed.1,5 In 2001, a report found that eight out of ten drugs removed from the market over the previous four years had riskier side effects for women than men.6 It was only after 2016 that US congress required gender data to be analysed.5 Dr. Arthur Mirin's research and advocacy work on myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), which is a severely underfunded disease, illustrates the ongoing struggle to address funding disparities. Mirin's efforts, alongside the organization MEAction, have brought attention to gaps in funding allocation where high burden women’s diseases received significantly less funding than male diseases with lower burden.3,4,7 This research underscores the need for tangible policies to bridge healthcare gaps.
The role of government strategy
Governmental initiatives have also played a crucial role in advancing women's health, exemplified by England's groundbreaking Women's Health Strategy launched in 2022.8 This comprehensive strategy, informed by extensive stakeholder engagement, aims to base women's health policy and services on the life course. This means it addresses critical periods throughout women's lives to promote good health and prevent negative outcomes, as opposed to strategies which focus on a specific disease or period of women’s lives such as pregnancy. While the strategy has yielded positive outcomes in its inaugural year, including increased funding for women's health hubs, dedicated NHS websites, and reduced contraceptive costs, many challenges remain.9,10,11 Issues such as underrepresentation of certain demographics and the lack of clear actionable plans in some priority areas, highlight the need for ongoing implementation refinement and measurable success of the strategy.9,11
Further funding avenues
In parallel with policy initiatives, research and innovation received funding boosts through multiple avenues. The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) allocated £55 million to empower councils to carry out local research, aiming to enhance residents' health and wellbeing in deprived UK areas.12 Enterprises like the Women's Health Innovation Series (WHIS) have brought innovators looking for funding in contact with businesses across the world, whilst venture capitalists such as Octopus Ventures, have invested in startups that address unmet needs in women's healthcare.11 With the femtech industry poised to double in revenue by 2030, this support drives further progress in bridging healthcare gaps for women.13
How can TVF Communications help?
Many organisations and individuals are taking leaps and strides towards a more equal future, so what can we at TVF do to help this along? At TVF Communications we have a brilliant and diverse workforce, with many high positions filled by female leads, including our Managing Director. Not to mention, our company surveys continuously highlight TVF as a friendly, inviting, and inclusive place to work!
Our work in the women’s healthcare space is also helping our clients make a meaningful impact. We have a vast range of disease expertise from comprehensive global campaigns on endometriosis to internal training programmes on vulvovaginal candidiasis. We are also partners to our clients working on autoimmune diseases with high women’s burden such as lupus and primary biliary cholangitis. TVF has also created a consultation tool which was used to develop an actionable plan on knowledge gaps in women’s health. If you have a communications need in the gender specific healthcare space, we are your go-to partner. Get in touch if you are interested in working with us!
By Duvaraka Alwar
