WELCOME: GLOBAL BHP BRAINTRUST
A Message from Andrea Pfeifer, Chair of the Global BHP BrainTrust
Amidst the seemingly endless geopolitical uncertainty, the climate crisis, and new emerging AI discussions, January was marked by groundbreaking new research. The joint report by the McKinsey Health Institute and World Economic Forum, unveiled during this year’s 54th Annual Meeting in Davos, shed light on the momentous opportunity of closing the women’s health gap. Women, on average, spend 25 percent more time in poor health than men.
This disparity stems from several root causes, including scientific biases, data collection gaps, care delivery and lack of investment. The study of human biology has traditionally been dedicated to men, hindering our understanding of sex-based biological differences today. Additionally, there are notable gaps in data collection throughout the entire process, from pre-generation to analysis, both epidemiologically and clinically. Similarly, insufficient attention is directed towards addressing barriers across care pathways, spanning from awareness to service accessibility and preventive care. This lack of emphasis parallels the underinvestment in women’s health conditions reinforcing a cycle of diminished scientific understanding and limited data. Thus, closing the Women’s Health Gap is crucial for substantial global advancement and offers a positive opportunity for societal and economic growth. With an estimated return of about $3 in economic growth for every $1 invested, addressing this gap could add up to $1 trillion to the economy annually by 2040.
What we therefore need is not only more women-centric research, data collection and analysis but also a strengthened approach to reshaping the future of women’s health on the global policy agenda. Pursuing an ecosystem approach that involves dialogue and collaboration among multi-sectoral stakeholders is not only key but a necessity. Initiatives such as the roundtable organized by the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative at WEF 2024 and others marked the first step. The Global BHP was proud to be a trusted partner and participant and continues to believe in the power of collaboration to advance women’s brain and mental health.