The numbers are stark: women comprise 50% of the global population, yet receive less than 5% of healthcare research and development funding. This isn't merely a statistic; it's a systemic failure that has left billions of women underserved.
THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT
Understanding how we arrived at this funding gap requires examining the history of medical research. Until 1993, women of childbearing age were largely excluded from clinical trials in the United States.
THE VENTURE CAPITAL DIMENSION
The funding gap extends beyond government research into private investment. Venture capital firms have historically allocated less than 3% of their healthcare investments to companies focused on women's health.
THE PATH FORWARD
Closing the women's health funding gap requires action across multiple fronts. Government funding agencies must prioritize research on conditions that disproportionately affect women.