Closing the gender health gap: a £39bn boost to the economy, as well as lives
The UK has the 12th largest gender health gap in the world. Closing it will require investment, but would also reap rewards for women and the country, reports Sarah Graham Closing the gender health gap by 2040 could add almost £39bn to the UK economy and give each British woman around 9.5 more days of good health a year. That’s according to data shared with The BMJ by the McKinsey Health Institute, whose recent report with the World Economic Forum describes investing in women’s health as a $1tn global opportunity, with a $3 return on investment for every $1 spent.1 The report quantifies the personal and economic cost of years lost to disability, ill health, and early death, and highlights that women globally spend on average 25% more of their lives in poor health than men. The economic case is compelling—by investing in research, innovation, and data collection and improving access to healthcare services, economies around the world could see a $400bn boost to productivity, as well as i