World Health Expo in Dubai convenes global leaders to address critical gaps in women’s health research, data, and care systems.
A groundbreaking analysis presented at World Health Expo reveals that closing the women’s health data and research gap could unlock up to $1 trillion annually by 2040 while preventing 75 million years of life lost each year due to poor health and premature mortality.
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The findings, presented by McKinsey & Company at the inaugural Women’s Health 360 forum on Tuesday at Dubai Exhibition Centre, highlight persistent disparities that leave women spending 25% more of their lives in ill health compared to men, despite comprising half the global population and 70% of the healthcare workforce.
Kate Lancaster, Chief Executive Officer of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), addressed delegates at the Frontiers Stage, emphasizing the systemic nature of these challenges. “Women are really struggling to access healthcare systems which have not been built around their needs,” Lancaster stated.
The economic implications extend far beyond healthcare costs. Closing this gap could unlock productivity gains equivalent to 137 million full-time jobs globally, according to McKinsey. The World Health Organisation’s Global Strategy estimates that coordinated investment in women’s health and nutrition could deliver a tenfold return when supported by stable funding and strong governance.
Lancaster called for comprehensive policy transformation: “Women’s health must be at the heart of local, national, and international strategies so that every level of society women can achieve better access to healthcare, and we can safeguard this reality for the women and girls of tomorrow. And within those strategies, a vital pillar must be focused on closing the women’s data gap and research gap.”
Ross Williams, Commercial Director at Informa Markets Healthcare, highlighted the event’s role in bridging policy and practice. “Events like WHX play a critical role in aligning policy ambition with delivery capability across the healthcare ecosystem,” Williams said, noting that the platform connects health leaders with industry, innovators, and investors to create commercial pathways for sustainable outcomes.
The expo, held under the patronage of the Ministry of Health and Prevention, continues through Thursday, February 12, bringing together stakeholders across three dedicated stages focused on breakthrough science, system transformation, and scaling healthcare solutions.
