Yet another reason to reduce inequalities between women and men. Women’s quality of life is lower due to unequal attention given to both sexes in medical research and treatment. This gap in health care between women and men is costly to the global economy: 1,000 billion dollars (920 billion euros) per year, a report from the World Economic Forum estimated on Wednesday.
The release of the report comes at just the right time as hundreds of business leaders and dozens of heads of state and government gather this week for the 54th annual conference of the World Economic Forum in the chic Alpine resort of Davos, Switzerland. .
130 billion dollars in global GDP to be won
According to the report, every US dollar invested in women’s health would yield three dollars in growth, partly due to sick women returning to the workforce.
Addressing inequalities linked to endometriosis and menopause – which only affect women and have long been considered understudied – could contribute $130 billion to global GDP (Gross Domestic Product) by 2040. he believes.
Later diagnoses
The study also examined the extent to which treatments and diagnostics benefited men more than women. So asthma inhalers are more effective on men than women, he says. Previous research has shown that women are diagnosed later than men for 700 different diseases.
“Investing in women’s health must be a priority for every country,” said Shyam Bishen, head of health care at the World Economic Forum. “In addition to improving women’s quality of life, ensuring women’s access to healthcare innovations is one of the best investments countries can make for their societies and economies,” he said. -he declared in a press release.
The World Economic Forum has announced the launch of the Global Alliance for Women’s Health, with so far a pledge to invest $55 million (€50 million).