The cost of ignoring women's health | Sheena Franklin | TEDxMiami

Economic Impact of Neglecting Women's Health - The global economy loses over $1 trillion annually due to lost productivity, absenteeism, and healthcare costs related to women's health [7] - US employers lose over $225 billion annually in healthcare costs, significantly driven by delayed diagnoses and lower quality of care for women [7] - Pharmaceutical companies miss out on billions by having only 4% of their pipelines focused on female-only conditions [8] - Consumer health and technology companies lose hundreds of millions by developing solutions based on male-centric data [9] Systemic Issues in Women's Healthcare - Women's health is often an afterthought, a blind spot ingrained in how healthcare views women [5] - Over 80% of autoimmune disease patients are women, yet nearly all research (92%) is conducted on men [3] - Delays in diagnosing and treating women's health issues lead to significant economic and personal costs [2][3][7] - Traditional tests often overlook biomarkers and hormone fluctuations relevant to women's health [11] Opportunities in Women's Health (Femtech) - Reframing the conversation around women's health presents a significant economic and healthcare opportunity, potentially beyond a $500 billion market [6][10] - Femtech companies are creating innovative solutions designed around the entire life cycle and experiences of women [15] - AI and precision medicine can be used to improve drug development and predict sex-specific drug responses [12] Actions for Improvement - Challenge outdated narratives, question dismissive care, and refuse to downplay symptoms [18] - Policymakers, healthcare leaders, and technologists should ensure comprehensive policies and evaluate product development pipelines [19] - Physicians should advocate for more comprehensive medical training and question outdated diagnostic criteria [19]