The Gates Foundation announced on Monday that it will invest $2.5 Billion by 2030 to address gaps in women’s health care. Founder Bill Gates stated that issues ranging from preeclampsia to menopause have been neglected for far too long.
This investment is one of the first major commitments following Gates' announcement earlier this year to donate his $200 billion fortune by 2045. It represents about one-third more than what the Foundation spent on women’s and maternal health research and development over the past five years.
In the words of Bill Gates, “Women’s health remains overlooked, underfunded, and sidelined. Far too many women still die or suffer from preventable conditions. This needs to change.” The latest investment is in line with this commitment.
The research will explore critically under-researched health issues impacting hundreds of millions of women in both high- and low-income nations. It will focus on conditions such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, heavy menstrual bleeding, endometriosis, and menopause.
The renewed focus on neglected conditions highlights the growing role of women's health apps in closing care gaps, especially in menstrual health and menopause management. These digital platforms are seen as complementary tools to global research as well as innovation efforts.
The Gates Foundation’s new investment will target five key areas: maternal health and nutrition; obstetric care and maternal immunization; contraceptive innovation; menstrual health; and sexually transmitted infections.
The main goal is to initiate research, create innovative products, and ensure equitable access to them across the globe. Dr. Anita Zaidi, Gates Foundation’s head of gender equality, stated the field has lagged due to bias and limited data on issues like drug transfer into the uterus.
She said, “If you look at the research, there might be only about 10 women who have ever been studied. We still do not have answers to these fundamental questions”.
A 2021 McKinsey & Co. analysis found that only 1% of healthcare research and innovation funding was allocated to female-specific conditions other than cancer. This shows how women’s health care has been neglected to a large extent.
Zaidi admitted that the $2.5 billion was merely a "drop in the bucket" compared to the actual needs. He urged greater involvement from the private sector, philanthropists, and governments to bridge the gap.
The Gates Foundation’s $2.5 billion pledge is likely to accelerate innovation as well as investment in the women’s health app market. With more attention on issues like periods, menopause, and pregnancy care, digital health platforms are likely to become more popular.
The funding may also spur partnerships between tech developers, researchers, and healthcare providers to integrate evidence-based features into apps. This will likely expand reach in underserved regions as well as promote data-driven insights into female-specific health conditions.
According to Coherent Market Insights (CMI), the global women health app market is projected to experience a CAGR of 14.5% between 2025 and 2032. Total market valuation will likely reach USD 4.12 Bn in 2025 and USD 10.63 Bn by 2032.
Sources:
News Outlet: Reuters
