#London #United Kingdom #World Economic Forum #Women's Health #Kearney

A Necessary Reform in Women’s Health Research

In an urgent new report by Kearney in collaboration with the World Economic Forum's Global Alliance for Women's Health, a critical reassessment of women's health research has been proposed. This initiative, supported by the Gates Foundation, outlines a five-point policy reform plan aimed at addressing a glaring inequity in research funding and clinical practices that affect women uniquely.

The Disparity in Research Funding

Data shows that women, who make up about half of the global population, receive a mere 7% of healthcare research funding for conditions that specifically affect them. This discrepancy is alarming, especially when considering that only 5% of drugs are adequately tested for safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding, leading to potential risks for both mothers and their children. These figures illustrate the pressing need for comprehensive changes in the way women's health is researched and funded.

Key Recommendations for Reform

The report titled Prescription for Change: Policy Recommendations for Women’s Health Research suggests five essential reforms:

1. Unlocking Innovation in Women’s Health
The report proposes a series of regulatory and financial reforms designed to make research and development in women's health more commercially viable. This includes tax incentives, targeted research grants, and public-private funding partnerships that aim to close existing investment gaps. By creating a new value proposition for pricing and reimbursement, the aim is to boost research and develop new treatments tailored to women's health needs.

2. Enhancing Inclusion in Clinical Trials
It is recommended that clinical trials enforce mandatory representation of women across different age and race categories. Enrollment in trials should accurately reflect the real-world disease burden. A maternal investigation plan is also crucial to ensure that pregnant and lactating women are safely included in research efforts, bridging significant data gaps that currently exist.

3. Standardization of Data Collection
The report emphasizes the necessity for standardized terminology and data collection methods to allow for distinct categories of clinical trial participants. It highlights the importance of conducting sex-specific benefit-risk assessments to better recognize and understand the unique effects of treatments on women.

4. Reimagining Clinical Trial Design
The recommendations urge a shift toward designing clinical trials with women’s specific health issues in mind. This shift includes implementing tailored recruitment strategies and community-based approaches that enhance participation and education for both study participants and investigators.

5. Improved Communication of Sex-Specific Information
Finally, the report calls for updates to clinical guidelines, drug labeling, and patient information that take sex-specific differences into account. These updates should arise from analyses of sex-disaggregated trial data, becoming a routine part of regulatory approvals.

The Voices Behind the Report

Paula Bellostas Muguerza, Kearney's global lead in Healthcare and Life Sciences, shared personal experiences highlighting the systemic issues women face in healthcare. She pointed out that many women encounter misdiagnosis and delays simply because healthcare systems do not adequately consider their unique needs. Muguerza expresses hope that the proposed reforms can begin to rectify this imbalance by influencing how research is funded and structured.

Shyam Bishen, leading the Centre for Health and Healthcare at the World Economic Forum, emphasized the necessity of personalized medical care for women. He stated that inclusive research practices are crucial for everyone’s benefit, advocating for the policy changes highlighted in the report.

Moreover, Sanjana Bhardwaj from the Gates Foundation remarked on the broader implications of poor women's health, pointing out that these challenges are not merely clinical but deeply rooted in systemic issues. Addressing women's health research is essential for fostering innovation and creating a fairer future in global health.

Conclusion

In summary, the report serves as an urgent call to action, stressing the need for systematic reforms in women’s health research. The proposed initiatives not only aim to improve health outcomes but also to ensure that women's health issues receive the attention they rightfully deserve in research and healthcare practices. The collaboration between Kearney, the World Economic Forum, and the Gates Foundation marks a significant step toward more equitable healthcare for women worldwide.

For more detailed insights from the report, visit Kearney's official website.