Women’s health could unlock US$100bn by 2030

Addressing women’s health could unlock US$100bn by 2030 in the US alone, a new report has found.

The World Economic Forum has published its Women’s Health Investment Outlook to highlight undercapitalised opportunities in women’s health.

A Boston Consulting Group analysis cited in the report estimates that treating four major conditions that disproportionately affect women could unlock this value by 2030.

The four areas are cardiovascular disease (heart and blood vessel disease), osteoporosis (bone thinning), menopause and Alzheimer’s disease.

These common, high-burden conditions remain underserved.

The report notes that, despite women making up half the global population, women’s healthcare attracts only six per cent of private healthcare investment, and companies focused exclusively on women’s health receive less than one per cent.

Around 90 per cent of current investment is concentrated in reproductive health, maternal care and women-specific cancers.

The authors say the true burden and potential of women’s healthcare have been obscured by fragmented data, historical bias, a lack of women in relevant leadership roles and misaligned incentives.

Half of private investments in women’s health-specific companies are at pre-seed or seed stage, and the sector is gaining momentum.

The report points to acquisitions in pelvic health, diagnostics and rising institutional interest in scalable platforms.

Six areas show strong potential for investment: women’s cancer therapeutics; virtual women’s healthcare and benefits management; remote maternal health monitoring; women-focused mental health platforms; women-first longevity and wellness concierge services; and wearables and platforms for women’s metabolic health.

Given the spa and wellness sector’s majority-female clientele, operators could host selected treatments if they extend their facilities.

Suppliers and innovators can also play a key role in creating and adopting women’s healthcare technologies, with devices to support pelvic health already supplied to high-end health clubs and spas to address continence and pelvic pain.

The report was published in collaboration with Boston Consulting Group, with contributions from the investment community, healthcare professionals and others.