Bill Gates’ ex-wife and philanthropist Melinda Gates has pledged $215 million in new funding for women’s health and called for greater accountability in addressing long-standing gaps in healthcare for women, saying progress should be measured over the next four to five years to determine whether access to treatment is improving. Speaking in a Bloomberg Television interview in London, French Gates said the world remains significantly behind in addressing women’s health needs and argued that governments must invest more in research, prevention and data collection.“We are way behind on women’s health across the world,” French Gates said, adding that better evidence is needed to persuade policymakers to prioritise the issue and direct resources where they can have the greatest impact. “Measuring matters,” she said. “Let’s come back and measure this in four or five years” to assess whether women are better able to access treatments and healthcare support.
Health issues affecting women’s careers
The comments came alongside new Gallup-Pivotal research highlighting the impact of health challenges on women’s personal and professional lives. According to the study, more than four in 10 women in the UK said their health had prevented them from doing everything they wanted to do, while 34% said health issues had stopped them from reaching their full potential at work.Among women who had experienced menopause or perimenopause, 58% said the transition had negatively affected their life or career in at least one way. French Gates said the economic consequences can be severe because perimenopause and menopause often occur when women are approaching the peak of their careers. Many women report taking time off work and consulting multiple doctors before receiving appropriate care, she said. Health challenges can become “an off-ramp to their dreams,” she added.
Push for greater investment
The latest commitment, announced through Pivotal, will support efforts ranging from reproductive health and contraceptive access to menopause-related research and care. The funding brings French Gates’ total philanthropic support for women’s health to more than $600 million over the past two years.“Too many women still go without clear answers and quality healthcare at the moments that shape their lives, from their reproductive years through menopause,” French Gates said while announcing the funding.She also said stigma continues to be a major barrier, particularly around menopause, and urged governments, health systems and funders to increase investments in an area that has historically been underfunded.“It is time we look at this issue,” she said. “Let’s invest in it though now.”Need for better women’s healthcare extends well beyond wealthy nations: Melinda GatesFrench Gates said the need for better women’s healthcare extends well beyond wealthy nations. Drawing on her work in Africa, she highlighted the importance of reproductive healthcare and family planning in improving outcomes for women and communities.One of the most important lessons from her work, she said, is that when women can “time and space the births of their children” and lead healthy lives, “they flourish, and everyone around them flourishes.”The billionaire philanthropist has increasingly focused on women’s health since leaving the Gates Foundation, arguing that improved health outcomes are essential to helping women achieve economic opportunity, leadership roles and broader equality in society.