Exploring neglected women's healthcare issues, potential $1 trillion global economy boost. Addressing gender disparities in healthcare outcomes, need for understanding distinctions. Closing the gender gap in healthcare, promoting employer awareness and resource allocation. Importance of reading the room and pivoting discussions to meet client needs for successful meetings.
Addressing women's health gap during prime working years can boost the global economy by $1 trillion annually.
Improving healthcare by considering sex-based differences is crucial to better treat prevalent conditions in women.
Deep dives
Women's Health Gap: Misconceptions and Economic Impact
Women's health is often oversimplified, with misconceptions that impact how conditions are treated. Contrary to the belief that women live longer means they are healthier, women actually spend 25% more time in poor health than men. The major health gap for women occurs during prime working years, affecting economic productivity. Addressing this gap presents a trillion-dollar economic opportunity globally, enhancing healthy living days and work participation.
Science and Care Gaps in Women's Health
Science's lack of consideration for sex-based differences contributes to the health gap, leading to insufficient data and understanding of optimal treatments for women. Healthcare disparities also arise in recognizing symptoms like heart attacks in women, affecting their outcomes. Limited research investment in women's health, with less than 5% of R&D spending allocated to it, exacerbates the gaps in care for prevalent conditions like endometriosis.
Driving Change and Closing the Women's Health Gap
Closing the women's health gap necessitates addressing gender disparities in science, care provision, and research investment. Emphasizing sex-based differences in medical education and care delivery is crucial. Broad societal involvement, including employers supporting women's health initiatives, and leveraging innovative technologies like generative AI are essential for driving comprehensive improvements. Promoting awareness, data collection, and tailored treatments can transform women's health outcomes and diminish disparities.
Women’s healthcare has been neglected for decades. On this episode of The McKinsey Podcast, McKinsey senior partners Kweilin Ellingrud and Lucy Pérez join editorial director Roberta Fusaro to discuss McKinsey’s recent report about issues in women’s healthcare and what can be done to address them and potentially boost the global economy by $1 trillion a year.
In our second segment--what do you do when you realize you’re losing your audience during a presentation? McKinsey senior partner Sherina Ebrahim explains why sometimes you have to go off script.