We're Going Backwards: The $20 Billion Plan to Close the Gender Healthcare Gap

The Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR) is launching a $20 billion, 10-year federal road map aimed at improving women’s health in the United States. Over half of all health organizations, such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, have signed on to support this initiative. Research indicates that for every dollar spent globally on medical research and innovation, only 5 cents are allocated specifically towards women’s health. SWHR President Katie Schubert emphasizes the need for more investment in both the research itself and education and training for healthcare providers. This follows a trend where funding for women's health at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has decreased from 13% to less than 10% since 1989, despite women living longer but spending more time being sick compared to men.