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McKinsey report underscores US$1tn potential of closing gender health gap

The report looked at new research sizing the health and economic potential of investing in women’s health

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A new “ground-breaking” report has highlighted the US$1tn potential of closing the gender gap in healthcare.

The report, published by the McKinsey Health Institute in collaboration with the World Economic Forum Centre for Health and Healthcare, analysed at the root causes driving the gender disparities in healthcare and outlined the actions needed to address the shortcomings that limit the ability of many women to live to their full potential.

Women spend on average 25 per cent more time in poor health than men, with studies showing they fare more poorly compared with men in relation to disease prevalence, access to healthcare and outcomes after treatment.

The McKinsey report found that closing the gender health gap could reduce the time women spend in poor health by almost two-thirds and add up to US$1tn to the economy annually by 2040.

Additionally, the research showed that bridging the gender gap could lead to an additional seven healthy days for every woman each year, or more than 500 days over a woman’s lifetime.

“Women have been treated by the scientific and medical communities as though they are small men, when our entire biology is different,” explained Anouk Petersen, report co-author and health equity co-leader of the McKinsey Health Institute.

“Women’s health is often simplified to include only sexual and reproductive health, which meaningfully underrepresents women’s health burden.

“We must evolve our understanding of women’s health to look at the whole person in a much more specific way if we are going to close this gap.”

Pooja Kumar, report co-author and global leader of the McKinsey Health Institute, said: “We know where the inequities are, and we need to address them.

“Fifty-six percent of the women’s health burden is due to health conditions that are more prevalent or manifest differently in women. This is a clear signal about the need for more investment in understanding and addressing women’s health.”

Kweilin Ellingrud, co-author and director of the McKinsey Global Institute, added: “Narrowing the gap would lead to fewer early deaths, fewer health conditions per woman, extended economic and societal capacity to contribute, and increased productivity.

“Of these outcomes, the largest economic impact comes from women experiencing fewer health conditions, enabling them to avoid 24 million life years lost to disability and boosting economic productivity by up to US$400bn.”

The report found that for every US$1 invested in women’s health, about US$3 is projected in economic growth, generating the equivalent impact of 137 million women accessing full-time positions by 2040.

The authors said that unlocking this potential could be possible with “concrete” steps, such as investing in women-centric research, collecting and analysing sex, ethnicity, and gender-specific data, enhancing access to gender-specific care, incentivising new financing models and establishing business policies that support women’s health.

Valentina Sartori, report co-author and affiliated leader of the McKinsey Health Institute, said: “We can address this gap.

“Now that we have sized the opportunity, of addressing the women’s health gap, we can unleash the investment needed for stronger sex-based care delivery and R&D, and continue to generate the data that expands our knowledge and helps close the gap.”

Lucy Pérez, report co-author and co-leader of the McKinsey Health Institute’s health equity portfolio, added: “To improve health equity and foster economic growth, stakeholders across sectors and industries must develop a cooperative and comprehensive strategy to address women’s health.

“There is a tremendous opportunity to support the health of women, and a clear business case for making these investments.”

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Menopause

Medichecks acquires My Menopause Centre to expand specialist hormone health services

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Digital diagnostics company Medichecks has acquired specialist menopause health platform and clinic My Menopause Centre.

The deal is part of Medichecks’ move into clinical services and follows its earlier purchase of Leger Clinic, creating what the company describes as a hormone health offering for women and men across the UK.

Medichecks and My Menopause Centre will combine digital services with clinical governance. The acquisition aims to enhance Medichecks’ ability to deliver integrated testing, diagnosis and ongoing clinical support.

The combined group plans to grow its specialist hormone health services, supporting patients across the UK with clinical care throughout different stages of their hormone health journey.

Helen Marsden, co-founder of Medichecks, said: “At Medichecks, our mission is to make healthcare more accessible, evidence-based and patient-centred.

“Helen and Clare have built an outstanding, clinically credible platform that is transforming menopause care for women across the UK.

“Medichecks now owns two CQC Outstanding-rated clinics, the only clinics in their respective sectors to achieve this rating, and we are deeply committed to delivering safe, compassionate and patient-centric care.

“We’re proud to continue the founders’ legacy while supporting the next stage of growth, ensuring more women can access high-quality menopause care when they need it most.”

The CQC, or Care Quality Commission, is the independent regulator of health and social care in England.

The acquisition supports Medichecks’ plans to make hormone healthcare more accessible by delivering integrated testing, diagnosis and ongoing clinical support for patients across the UK.

Helen Normoyle, co-founder and chief executive of My Menopause Centre, said: “We set out to build something resilient, clinically credible and scalable, not just fast.

“Our mission has always been to make menopause care compassionate, accessible and grounded in evidence. Medichecks shares that vision.

“Their digital platform, commitment to clinical excellence and patient-centred care make them the ideal partner to take My Menopause Centre into its next chapter.

“This milestone reflects not only a strong product, but a remarkable team and community.

“I’m deeply proud of what we’ve built and excited to see My Menopause Centre grow further under Medichecks’ leadership.”

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Hormonal health

Menopause specialist Haver joins Midi Health

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Menopause specialist Dr Mary Claire Haver has been appointed as the first chief agewell officer at virtual care clinic Midi Health.

In the role, Dr Haver will work with Midi’s clinical team to develop the AgeWell platform, described as a proactive health model that integrates perimenopause and menopausal care with metabolic health, bone density, brain health and cardiovascular risk assessment.

The platform aims to provide preventative care targeting what the company describes as the primary drivers of female mortality and disability: heart disease, bone loss and cognitive decline.

Joanna Strober, chief executive and co-founder of Midi Health, said: “Longevity care has historically ignored women’s biology, especially during the critical windows of midlife and menopause.

“At Midi Health, we are committed to extending healthspan, not just lifespan, and making that care accessible to millions of women as a core pillar of their health.

“By collaborating with Dr Haver, we are ensuring women continue to have access to care designed for their bodies, their hormones, and their real lives.”

Dr Haver is board-certified in obstetrics and gynaecology, a Menopause Society certified practitioner, a certified culinary medicine specialist and an adjunct associate professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at The University of Texas Medical Branch.

After a career in academic medicine, Dr Haver founded The Pause Life, described as a science and education-based resource for women navigating perimenopause and the menopause transition.

Through her books, unPaused podcast and digital platform, she has provided education on midlife health.

Dr Mary Claire Haver said: “I have spent my career advocating for women to receive the science-backed, no-nonsense guidance they deserve.

“I chose to partner with Midi Health because they are the only platform with the scale and medical rigour to deliver the kind of care women deserve, regardless of their zip codes.

“Together, we are setting a new standard for proactive, preventative care that meaningfully extends both lifespan and healthspan for women.”

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Entrepreneur

Kate Ryder headlines Women’s Health Week USA 2026 as full agenda goes live

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Women’s Health Week USA 2026 has unveiled its first populated agenda, anchored by an opening keynote from Kate Ryder, Founder and CEO of Maven Clinic, and featuring a cross-sector lineup shaping the next phase of scale in women’s health.

You can view the full agenda here.

Taking place May 13–14, 2026, at the New York Academy of Medicine, Women’s Health Week USA brings together the full women’s health ecosystem to focus on one central question: what does it take to move women’s health from innovation to institutional scale?

Kate Ryder will open Day 1 with a keynote drawing on her experience building Maven Clinic into the world’s largest virtual clinic for women’s and family health.

Under her leadership, Maven has partnered with employers and health plans to deliver care across fertility, maternity, postpartum, paediatrics, and menopause at scale.

Her perspective sets the tone for a program centered on commercialisation, partnership, and sustainable growth.

Beyond the opening keynote, the newly released agenda reflects the sector’s growing maturity.

Across two days, the program features 70+ speakers, with representation from leading organizations including the FDA, Planned Parenthood, CVS Health Ventures, Samsung Next, NIH, WHO, and Maven Clinic.

Sessions span investment and deal flow, clinical innovation, regulation, data and technology, and market expansion, alongside dedicated pitch sessions and curated 1:1 matchmaking designed to turn insight into action.

The agenda has been built to facilitate meaningful connections across the ecosystem, with partnerships positioned as the primary driver of scale.

As women’s health continues to attract institutional capital and global attention, Women’s Health Week USA 2026 offers a clear snapshot of where the market is heading, and who is shaping it.

The full agenda is now live, with additional speakers and partners to be announced in the coming months.

View the full programme here.

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