In 2025, the World Economic Forum (WEF) released its groundbreaking report, A Blueprint to Close the Women’s Health Gap. The findings were both sobering and motivating: closing this gap could unlock an additional $1 trillion annually for the global economy by 2040. One year later, the urgency to act has only grown stronger.
The reality of the women’s health gap
For too long, women’s health has been under-researched, underfunded, and underrepresented in policy and practice. This has created a health gap that affects not only women’s quality of life but also economic growth, workforce productivity, and social well-being.
Key findings from the 2025 report include:
- Women spend 25% more of their lives in poor health compared to men.
- Closing the health gap could add the equivalent of 137 million years of healthy living for women worldwide.
- The economic payoff is clear — healthier women mean stronger families, stronger workforces, and stronger economies.
Why this matters for business and leadership
The health gap is not just a medical issue — it’s a business and societal issue. When women face preventable health challenges, companies lose out on productivity, innovation, and leadership potential. Addressing women’s health is therefore both a moral imperative and a business necessity.
Forward-thinking organisations are already:
- Investing in comprehensive workplace health programmes.
- Expanding access to preventive care and reproductive health services.
- Leveraging data and AI to improve diagnosis, treatment, and personalised care for women.
A blueprint for 2026 and beyond
The WEF blueprint sets out practical steps for governments, businesses, and civil society to close the health gap:
- Policy change to ensure equal access to healthcare for women.
- Research investment to address historical gaps in women-focused studies.
- Innovation through technology and digital health solutions tailored to women’s needs.
- Collaboration across sectors to build sustainable, inclusive healthcare systems.
For women in leadership — especially in sectors like insurance, finance, and professional services — health is directly linked to opportunity. If we are serious about advancing gender equality in the workplace, we must also tackle the systemic barriers to women’s health and well-being.
As we move deeper into 2026: closing the women’s health gap is not a “nice-to-have” — it is a societal and economic necessity. Ensuring that women can live healthier, longer lives will benefit not just individuals, but organisations, economies, and future generations.
Explore the full report from the World Economic Forum: Blueprint to Close the Women’s Health Gap – https://www.weforum.org/publications/blueprint-to-close-the-women-s-health-gap-how-to-improve-lives-and-economies-for-all