Key takeaways on women’s health as next frontier for investment
- Women’s health receives just 6% of global private healthcare investment, despite women representing nearly half the world’s population
- 90% of funding is concentrated on cancers, reproductive and maternal health, leaving other major conditions underfunded
- Areas such as cardiovascular disease, menopause, osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s represent significant untapped market potential
- Greater collaboration, data transparency and blended finance are needed to unlock growth and innovation in women’s health
As the World Economic Forum (WEF) takes place in Davos this week, one issue being brought to the forefront is the fact that the women’s health sector remains seriously underfunded – and therefore is ripe for innovation and investment.
WEF’s 2026 Women’s Health Investment Outlook report reveals that women’s health receives just 6% of private healthcare investment, despite women accounting for nearly half of the world’s population. Of this already limited funding, 90% is directed towards women’s cancers, reproductive health and maternal health, leaving many other conditions that disproportionately affect women significantly underfunded.
Women’s health investment remains skewed and underfunded
The report shows that while investment momentum is growing, there is still a lack of focus on conditions such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, menopause and Alzheimer’s. These areas represent a major – and largely untapped – source of economic value. Low- and middle-income countries are also disproportionately affected by the funding gap.
“Men’s health has long been the default baseline for research and product development, with clinical standards, trial designs and innovation pipelines often calibrated to male physiology and needs,” said Shyam Bishen, Head, Centre for Health and Healthcare, World Economic Forum. “This approach systematically sidelines conditions that affect women uniquely, differently, or disproportionately, leaving critical areas underfunded, under-researched and underserved.”
Despite a longer life expectancy, women spend approximately 25% more of their lives in poor health or living with a disability.
Untapped market opportunities across high‑impact conditions
According to the report, four priority areas – cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, menopause and Alzheimer’s – are each estimated to exceed $100bn in potential market opportunity in the US alone by 2030.
The report also highlights that other underrepresented areas, including endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and menstrual health, affect tens of millions of women worldwide, yet receive less than 2% of women’s health investment.
However, several areas show strong signals of readiness for growth and investment. These include women’s cancer therapeutics; digital healthcare for women, such as remote maternal and mental health platforms; longevity clinics targeting middle-aged and menopausal women; and wearable technologies designed to monitor metabolic health conditions, including PCOS and gestational diabetes.
“The good news is that investment momentum is building; investors now see women’s health as a growth frontier, not just a niche,” said Trish Stroman, Managing Director and Senior Partner at Boston Consulting Group. “The in-vitro fertilization market exemplifies this, showing how aligning science and technology breakthroughs with rising demand and reimbursement certainty can unlock a high-growth industry.”
Opportunity for personal care products for menopausal women
One of the key topics beauty and personal care brands may look to address is the symptoms and effects of menopause, which can impact skin, hair, body weight and therefore confidence levels. A study published by the National Institutes of Health declared that 1.2 billion women are expected to be in perimenopause and menopause by 2030.
According to Heather Jackson, who is CEO and co-founder of GenM, an organisation that partners with brands selling menopause products and advocates to get the best for menopausal women, there are more than 15.5 million women in the UK alone, and one billion globally, who are currently in menopause.
“The next generation of women is actively seeking solutions to improve their experience of menopause— they’re demanding visibility, trust and choice," she said. “Yet while menopause is being talked about now more than ever, GenM’s research still consistently shows that menopausal consumers continue to feel overlooked, underserved, and invisible, to both brands and society.”
Looking ahead, the WEF report now calls for greater collaboration across industry to expand the evidence base in women’s health and improve transparency around clinical outcomes and economic returns. It also recommends de-risking investment through blended finance models that combine public, private and philanthropic capital, while urging companies in adjacent sectors to expand into women’s health.