For far too long, women’s health has been overlooked in medical research and health care solutions, resulting in significant disparities in health outcomes. Women spend an average of nine years in poor health—25% more than men—underscoring the urgent need for a transformative approach. The World Economic Forum estimates that the women’s health gap equates to 75 million years of life lost due to poor health or early death each year. Closing the gap would give the 3.9 billion women in the world today an extra seven healthy days a year, or an average of 500 days over a lifetime, highlighting that investing in women’s health is not just a matter of equity but also a catalyst for economic growth.
Asia faces some of the most severe challenges. The OECD reveals a striking disparity in health care access for women living rural areas compared to their urban counterparts. This issue is even more pronounced for women from the lowest income quintile compared to those from the highest quintile across the Asia-Pacific region. Indigenous women in the region are also reported to have encountered additional obstacles in accessing quality and equitable health care services, leading to greater health vulnerabilities compared to non-Indigenous women.
Insights from the Asia-Pacific Women’s Cancer Coalition report revealed that countries such as India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam share challenges and opportunities across five critical domains:
- Policy and Planning
- Prevention and Screening
- Diagnosis and Resource Capacity
- Treatment and Access
- Public Awareness and Education
While there have been advancements in clinical guidelines and treatment coverage, significant potential remains to improve women’s health outcomes. Diagnosis and resource capacity were identified as the weakest aspects across all six countries.
Deeply ingrained societal values, cultural expectations and gender norms, coupled with limited autonomy, create significant barriers to understanding, initiating and receiving medical care for reproductive and maternal health. This situation perpetuates gender bias in health, often entrenched at systemic and policy levels. Moreover, a lack of support from families and communities can discourage women from engaging in risk-reducing health behaviors.
Enter FemTech, short for female technology, an emerging sector that is revolutionizing women’s health care. This industry focuses on innovative solutions for a wide array of women’s health issues, including maternal health, menstrual health, pelvic and sexual health, fertility, menopause and contraception, as well as a number of general health conditions that affect women disproportionately or differently. From period-tracking apps to wearable devices for monitoring pregnancy, FemTech empowers women with the tools and information needed to take control of their health.
The market for FemTech is experiencing remarkable growth, projected to expand from $28 billion in 2023 to $50 billion by 2025. This growth is fueled by a rising demand for solutions that address women’s unique health needs. FemTech By providing personalized, data-driven insights, FemTech empowers women to make informed health care decisions, which is crucial for reducing health care disparities. Its emphasis on personalized, person-centered care effectively addresses and overcomes numerous health care barriers. For example, consider a pregnant woman living in a remote village who struggles to travel for medical appointments. With telemedicine consultations available, she can receive the necessary care and guidance from an obstetrician without the constraints of distance or transportation challenges. Other FemTech solutions may further enhance information delivery by offering messaging in local languages, ensuring that women can access essential health resources regardless of their location. This accessibility is especially important in lower-tech or resource-limited settings, where traditional health care services may be scarce.
This technology not only leads to improved health outcomes but also fosters greater autonomy and empowerment among women, enabling them to take control of their health in ways that were once beyond reach.
Despite its promise, the FemTech sector faces significant challenges. Historically, women’s health has been under-researched, under-monitored, underfunded and underserved. Currently, investment in women’s health care research accounts for a mere 4% of overall research and development funding, leaving many health issues unaddressed. FemTech In fact, gender-specific health solutions often do not receive the attention they deserve, as health issues are typically prioritized based on the largest demographic needs and those that can be addressed through short-term interventions. But FemTech solutions in particular are undervalued, as awareness remains low, especially among underserved populations, due to limited education and exposure. Importantly, access to funding is a major obstacle. Female founders often encounter biases that label their ventures as passion projects rather than serious businesses. This stigma, alongside the misconception that FemTech is a niche market with limited growth potential, deters investment. Consequently, FemTech companies receive only a fraction of the funding allocated to their male counterparts. Research shows that female-led startups often outperform those founded by men, yet systemic biases continue to sideline them. Additionally, a lack of comprehensive data on women’s health forces FemTech companies to conduct lengthy studies, further complicating their access to venture capital.
Yet, these challenges present opportunities for collaboration and innovation. FemTech The nature of technology allows for agile implementation of pilot programs that can be quickly refined, providing valuable insights to regulatory bodies and health care providers in real-time. This feedback can help shape effective models of care that are easily scalable across various settings and specifically designed to address women’s health needs. Initiatives aimed at improving digital literacy can also ensure equitable access to FemTech solutions, particularly for women in low-income or remote areas.
FemTech represents a long-overdue revolution in women’s health. By focusing on the unique health needs of women and providing innovative, accessible solutions, this industry is not only improving health outcomes but also empowering women to thrive. Moving forward, it is crucial to advocate for increased investment, awareness and equity in women’s health to fully realize the potential of FemTech and close the enduring health gap.
By embracing FemTech, we can pave the way for a healthier, more equitable future—one where women are no longer treated as second-class citizens in health care but as empowered individuals capable of managing their health and well-being.
This piece is from APCO’s Asia Pulse Newsletter.
