Women's Health: What it is, how it's funded and what changes do we need? (Joy Rios)

Debates around equity and equality, especially concerning men and women and female representation, can become heated and divisive quickly.

For a long time, female bodies have been perceived merely as male bodies with different reproductive organs. However, the differences go beyond that: 80% of people with autoimmune conditions are women, 66% of Alzheimer's disease patients are women, and symptoms of cardiovascular diseases present differently in women and men, among other disparities. These health issues significantly impact women's productivity.

In today's episode, you will hear a recording from the Healthcare Business Women Ljubljana meetup focused on women's health.

Joy Rios, founder of HIT Like a Girl Media joined the discussion on women's health and how the unique aspects of women's health are impacting digital health companies and businesses. While less than a quarter of CEOs in digital health companies are women, in femtech companies, 76% of founders, co-founders, and CEOs are women.

Website: www.facesofdigitalhealth.com

Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/

Show notes:

[00:02:00] Guest Speaker: Joy Rios

[00:03:00] Current State of Women's Health

• Common associations with women's health: menstrual health apps (Clue), pelvic floor training (Elvie), sexual health (Rosy).
• Innovations in women’s health: apps for sexual assault victims, and addressing menopause and ovarian health.

[00:04:00] Research and Development

• Only 4% of R&D budgets historically went into women's health topics.
• Inclusion of women in clinical trials has improved, but gaps remain in medical device trials.

[00:05:00] Challenges and Biases

[00:06:00] Policy and Investment

• White House initiative and Melinda French Gates’ $2 billion investment in removing barriers for women.

[00:16:00] Impact of Abortion Rights on Women's Health

• Roe v. Wade overturned, affecting access to abortion and impacting startups in the field.
• Differences in state laws create challenges in providing consistent healthcare.

[00:22:00] Inspiring Developments

• Policy changes in Mexico leading to increased female representation in politics.
• Mexico’s progressive stance on women in leadership positions.

[00:26:00] Advice for Women in Healthcare Business

• Identify unique opportunities and unmet needs in healthcare.
• Understand regulations and compliance.
• Build a supportive community and collaborate.