Reducing the gap in women's health would save Europe more than €10,000 million every year

1. Impact of lack of differential research on women's health
2. The economic impact of the gender gap in health in Europe
3. Politics is public: the general state of the structure

Women Leaders in Healthcare (WLHC), a working group led by women leaders who build solutions and bring value to current and future challenges in all sectors affecting health in our country, organized an event titled “Gender in Health”. Keys to the gap in women's health in Spain and its social and economic impact at the heart of the debate. According to WLHC project ambassador Marta Reyes, “this event is a turning point in the fight to reduce gender inequality in health and a call to action for all sectors”.

Impact of lack of differential research on women's health

80% of historical medical studies focused on men or did not differentiate results by sex. This lack of differential research means that many diseases are diagnosed and treated based on the male model, ignoring the characteristics of the female body. As a result, women are 50% more likely to be misdiagnosed when they have a heart attack, for example.

According to Inmaculada Gil Rabadan, CEO of Daiichi Sankyo España, “cardiovascular diseases are the first cause of death for women in our country, and gender differences affecting health outcomes have been identified behind these data.” Data show that 35% of women's deaths are related to cardiovascular problems, which emphasizes the urgency of addressing this problem from a more comprehensive and specific perspective.

“También cabe señalar -continúa Gil- that women are underrepresented in clinical trials in the cardiovascular field”. In this sense, “it is urgent to change policies and practices in cardiovascular care for women, especially considering that, for example, 74% of men receive treatment for cholesterol, only 54% of women”.

Between 70% and 90% of these households are supported by women, and this no premium limits the time women can devote to their own well-being and health, including assistance with medical appointments and preventive measures. In fact, 60% of women report postponing or canceling medical appointments because of family obligations.

The economic impact of the gender gap in health in Europe

It is estimated that the economic cost of poor health in European countries is equal to 7% of their GDP, suggesting that policies that improve public health will make a significant contribution to the economy. An unhealthy population is bad for the economy, and an example of current events is the high rate of absenteeism in our country. According to a report by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), women with chronic illnesses have a 40% higher rate of absenteeism than men. This absenteeism has a direct impact on productivity and the overall economy.

Anna García Altes, president of the Asociación Española de Economía para la Salud, commented during the meeting that “the cost of cardiovascular disease in women in Spain is estimated at more than 20,000 million euros annually.” In this sense, he pointed out that “reducing the gap in women's health and improving the prevention and treatment of women's diseases could save more than 10,000 million euros every year in Europe”.

Improving these aspects could boost the economy by $1 billion by 2040, thanks to fewer premature deaths and health problems and greater opportunities for women to contribute to the economy and society. Ultimately, “for every dollar invested in women's health, they will gain $3 in economic growth,” García concludes.

Politics is public: the general state of the structure

One of the key takeaways from the meeting is the need to implement policies that promote equity in medical research and health care to close the gap in women's health. Rosa Romero, president of the Igualdad del Senado Commission, indicated in her intervention that “it is very important to include more women in clinical trials and train professionals against gender bias”. “Esto, -continúa Romero- will not only improve the quality of care and the creation of more effective and specific treatments, but will also contribute to the well-being of the whole society”.

Además de estas medidas, Romero insisted that more attention should be paid to women's mental health problems, which are often underdiagnosed, and that gender equality criteria should be included in the planning of health systems. “Por ultimo, -concluye Romero- all this will not be possible without great cooperation between sectors to develop policies that fully address inequalities in women's health”.