In 2022, the UK government launched its first women's health strategy aimed at addressing the systematic neglect of women's health needs, focusing on better support and access to services.

Key components of the strategy include the establishment of women's health hubs, which centralize essential services like gynecology, contraception, and menopause care, aiming to improve health outcomes for women.

Despite the strategy's promising start, women's health has historically faced chronic underfunding and under-research, leading to widespread health disparities and avoidable suffering among women.

Women represent 51% of the UK population but remain underrepresented in clinical research, resulting in significant diagnostic and treatment gaps for conditions such as endometriosis and heart disease.

However, recent NHS reforms and funding cuts threaten the stability and continuation of these women's health hubs, raising concerns about their sustainability and effectiveness.

Moreover, there are concerns that without equitable implementation, new health technologies, particularly in the emerging femtech sector, may worsen existing health disparities among women based on geography, ethnicity, or income.

The femtech sector is projected to grow rapidly, potentially reaching $117 billion globally by 2029, introducing innovative health solutions for women, but it must be designed inclusively to avoid exacerbating inequalities.

Additionally, there is a pressing need for transparency and oversight in health technologies to ensure they accurately serve diverse populations, particularly women from minority backgrounds.

Investing in women's health is essential not just for women, but for the well-being of families, communities, and the economy, and must be integrated into long-term NHS planning with measurable goals.

Long-term investment and commitment are crucial for successfully integrating women's health initiatives into the NHS, rather than treating them as temporary pilot programs.

To effectively advance women's health initiatives, the UK government must prioritize sustainable funding, cross-sector collaboration, and accessible health information.

This requires strong systems to integrate innovations into accessible, well-funded services tailored to women's real health needs.