The World Economic Forum has released a report to address the undercapitalised opportunities women’s health represents within global healthcare. 

The report, Women’s Health Investment Outlook, includes a recent analysis by management consultancy Boston Consulting Group that found treating four major conditions that affect women disproportionately could unlock US$100 billion (€92 billion, £79 billion) by 2030 in the US alone. 

The four conditions that affect women uniquely or require women-specific approaches are identified in the report as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, menopause, and Alzheimer’s.

These are high-burden, high-prevalence health issues and they remain underserved.

The authors highlight that despite women representing half the global population, women’s healthcare captures only six per cent of private healthcare investment. Companies focused exclusively on women’s health capture less than one per cent.

Ninety per cent of investment remains collectively concentrated in reproductive health, maternal care and women-specific cancers.

The authors say the reason the true burden and potential of women’s healthcare has remained obscured is due to fragmented data, historical bias, the lack of women in relevant leadership roles and misaligned incentives. 

Half of private investments in women’s health-specific companies are at pre-seed or seed stage and the authors believe the sector is gaining momentum. It cites acquisitions in pelvic health, diagnostics and rising institutional interest in scalable platforms.

The report highlights six of the strongest potential areas of investment:

• Women’s cancer therapeutics

• Virtual women’s healthcare and benefits management

• Remote maternal health monitoring

• Women-focused mental-health platforms

• Women-first longevity and wellness concierge services

• Wearables and platforms for women’s metabolic health

Wellness industry opportunities

Given that the spa and wellness sector has historically been known to attract a majority-female clientele, operators represent a natural setting for these kinds of treatments if they are willing to extend their existing facilities. 

Suppliers and innovators could also play a key role in the invention and adoption of women’s healthcare technologies.

Manufacturers of devices designed to support pelvic health are already being suppllied to high end health clubs and spas, to address the sadly still-taboo subject of continence and pelvic pain.

Read a recent column by Alina Hernandez, founder of Wellness Innovation Hub, suggesting ways spas can provide financially successful opportunities to support women’s cardiovascular health here.

The Women’s Health Investment Outlook is not the first report to address the gaps in women’s healthcare. Last year Spa Business published a story about a report that said unmet needs in women’s health and sexual health represents a multi-billion dollar “ghost market” for the wellness sector.

Notes

The World Economic Forum is the organisation known for its annual gathering of leaders from around the world specialising in business, government and academia. The 2026 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting is taking place between 19-23 January in Davos, a mountain resort in the eastern Alps of Switzerland. 

The report was published in collaboration with management consultancy Boston Consulting Group and with contributions from the investment community, healthcare industry professionals and others.

You can read the full report here.