Foreword The World Economic Forum’s Global Alliance for Women’s Health, in partnership with Kearney and the Gates Foundation, is pleased to present this white paper proposing key policy recommendations to protect improvements already made in women’s health science and innovation and to promote further progress. Addressing the women’s health research gap is not only an ethical imperative but also a critical step towards transforming global health outcomes. Women’s health has historically been under- researched and underfunded, leading to gaps in knowledge and innovation. Despite comprising half the world’s population, women have also been under-represented in clinical research, resulting in significant disparities in the understanding of men’s and women’s physiology. These disparities have far-reaching implications, influencing diagnosis, treatments and ultimately health outcomes for women. This existing gap in women’s health research is in line with the fact that women live in poor health for 25% more of their lives compared to men, according to a 2024 report.1 Closing this gap could yield 75 million disability-adjusted life years annually – the equivalent of adding seven healthy days per year per woman – and unlock $1 trillion in annual global GDP by 2040. While the economic benefits are impressive, improving women’s health is the real win, with lasting positive repercussions for society. The time has come for stakeholders to address the drivers of this gap, improving the lives of women while strengthening communities and economies worldwide. This paper addresses the policy changes needed to establish a more robust, safe and inclusive approach to women’s health science and innovation. We strongly believe that driving innovation in women’s health can improve the statistics and lead to more women-focused clinical research. Furthermore, it makes the case for including women from diverse racial, ethnic and age groups in clinical trials to ensure such trials better reflect the populations they aim to serve. The policy recommendations presented in this paper aim to address the gap in women’s health research. By promoting a more inclusive approach to research, society can advance science through a deeper understanding of women’s physiology, thereby improving safety and outcomes for women while advancing knowledge on health and medicine for all. Looking to the future, it is imperative that policy-makers, healthcare leaders and other stakeholders join forces to uphold women’s health as a cornerstone of medical progress. The vision outlined in this white paper provides a strategic path to closing the women’s health research gap and advancing sex-specific medicine.Shyam Bishen Head, Centre for Health and Healthcare; Member of the Executive Committee, World Economic ForumPaula Bellostas Muguerza Senior Partner, Global Lead, Healthcare and Life Sciences, Kearney Prescription for Change: Policy Recommendations for Women’s Health Research May 2025 Prescription for Change: Policy Recommendations for Women’s Health Research 3

Prescription for Change 2025