We need a broader perspective on innovations to advance a women and health agenda

Abstract

Although biotech innovations have contributed to improvements in health outcomes, we need more comprehensive health innovation to tackle persistent gender and intersectional equity gaps, argue Karla Unger Saldaña and colleagues Every year millions of women lose their lives to largely preventable conditions such as cardiovascular disease, complications from pregnancy and childbirth, and cervical cancer.1 Technological innovations have contributed to improved health outcomes for women, but their impact has been uneven.2 Technology development for women’s health, also referred to as “femtech,” is on the rise but by itself cannot resolve the root causes of women’s unmet health needs.3 Transformative progress for women globally demands much more. Firstly, health innovation needs to be reimagined beyond purely biological or technological solutions to embrace innovations at the sociocultural, health system, and policy levels. Secondly, women’s needs and context must be foundational to design and implementation of new health technologies. Thirdly, women’s expertise and leadership should be integrated across the innovations ecosystem and technology life cycle, so that women centred health solutions are effective, scalable, and sustainable. Deep rooted patriarchal structures systematically disadvantage women within economic, sociocultural, and political spheres and put their health at …