Women’s Health: Asia’s Forgotten Crisis

Every two minutes, a woman dies from a preventable cause related to pregnancy or childbirth. This is a staggering statistic, but it's only the tip of the iceberg. Even more alarming, 2.3 million die prematurely from avertable cancers each year.

These tragedies unfold in countries across the globe, but they’re most concentrated in lower-income nations, where over 90% of maternal deaths occur. This crisis is compounded by the fact that more than 75% of these deaths could be avoided through improved education and access to healthcare.

Women spend 25% more of their lives in debilitating health than men. 8% of the world’s population has an autoimmune disease of which 78% are women. Lung cancer kills more women each year than breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers combined. Women are three times more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis and four times more likely to have multiple sclerosis. Women are twice as likely to have a heart attack. Even the diagnoses are skewed: a Denmark study of 7 million people showed that women were diagnosed later than men for more than 700 diseases. 

These grim statistics reveal a global healthcare system that is fundamentally flawed. The study of human biology has historically defaulted to the male body, resulting in fewer available and less effective treatments for women. Remarkably, 70% of those affected by chronic pain are women, yet 80% of pain studies are conducted on male mice or men. Less than 2.5% of publicly funded research is dedicated to female reproductive health, despite 1 in 3 women experiencing severe reproductive health issues in their lifetime. The consequences of this bias are dire - 8 out of 10 prescription drugs were removed from the market between 1997 and 2000 due to gender-specific dangers.

In the Asia-Pacific region, where over half the world’s population lives, the impact of these healthcare disparities is particularly pronounced. In rural communities and remote villages, women, often the primary caretakers, face the brunt of these healthcare failures. The health of a mother or wife directly impacts the entire family, making the prevention and early detection of illnesses crucial for these communities. 

Cultural norms and societal biases further exacerbate these issues. In Asia, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women, yet a shocking 37% of women surveyed in the region feel ashamed about undergoing screenings. This cultural stigma contributes to the high mortality rates, despite cervical cancer being largely preventable through early detection and treatment.

Adding to the complexity, the medical device industry often overlooks the needs of women. For example, women have a 29% higher risk of short-term implant failure after total hip arthroplasty compared to men. Despite clear differences in bone structure, many implants are designed primarily with the male anatomy in mind, further ensuring that women are at a disadvantage.

Addressing these challenges requires more than just awareness - it demands action. Investing in gender-responsive healthcare, improving data collection on women’s health, and challenging harmful cultural norms are critical steps. Bridging the healthcare gap for women could not only save millions of lives but also boost the global economy by $1 trillion by 2040. Moreover, healthier women mean healthier families, communities, and societies.

The health of a mother and child is a more telling measure of a nation’s greatness than economic indicators. By focusing on women’s health, especially in regions like Asia-Pacific, we can create a ripple effect that improves socio-economic outcomes and fosters a more equitable and prosperous world.

This is a call to action. The time for the medical industry to act is now. It is imperative that research institutions, healthcare providers, and device manufacturers recognize and address the pervasive gender biases in healthcare. This means committing to more inclusive research that fully accounts for sex-based biological differences, developing treatments and devices tailored to women’s unique needs, and ensuring that women are equally represented in clinical trials. Only then can we begin to close the gap in women’s healthcare and create a system that truly serves all of humanity.