Read Again: Why Women’s Health Needs More Than Short Term Fixes

The UK has made strides in recognising women’s health as a national priority – but without long-term commitment, that progress risks slipping away

CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared in The Conversation

For decades, women’s health has been chronically underfunded and under-researched. This lack of investment has contributed to the gender health gap – a systemic disparity in how men and women are diagnosed, treated and prioritised within healthcare systems. Women make up 51% of the UK population yet continue to be underrepresented in clinical research, resulting in diagnostic blind spots and treatments that don’t account for female physiology.

A Long-Standing Imbalance in Women’s Health

Conditions such as endometriosis, adenomyosis and chronic menstrual disorders affect large swathes of the population but remain poorly understood and frequently dismissed. Many women wait years for a diagnosis – on average, it takes eight years to diagnose endometriosis – often enduring debilitating pain with limited support or solutions.

In recent years, some progress has been made. In 2022, the UK government launched the first ever women’s health strategy for England, which was a landmark recognition that the health needs of women have been systematically overlooked in research, policy and service design.

The strategy pledged better support for menopause, increased funding for research and the creation of women’s health hubs, which provide a convenient location for women to access multiple services, such as gynaecology, sexual health, contraception and menopause care. These hubs were designed to bring together vital services in one location and have shown promise in narrowing gender health gaps. Yet many of these services are now at risk of being dismantled before they’ve had a chance to take root.

The Risk of Losing Momentum

The government’s wider NHS reform efforts, coupled with cost-cutting, have included the withdrawal of national funding incentives for women’s health hubs. This decision has triggered concern across the health sector.

This is especially troubling at a time when women’s health is experiencing a surge in innovation. From AI-powered diagnostic tools and menstrual tracking wearables to 3D-printed pessaries and advanced imaging technologies, the potential for transformation is real. But innovation without infrastructure is futile. Tools must be linked to pathways of care, and new approaches must be delivered by professionals trained to understand the specific needs of women across different life stages, communities and backgrounds.

As the UK government moves ahead with NHS reforms, it must not lose sight of the importance of women’s health. Getting this right is not about launching another app or funding short-term pilots that disappear with the next budget cycle. It requires sustained, long-term investment backed by rigorous evidence and meaningful engagement with the women these systems are meant to serve.