A RECENT World Economic Forum report has shed light on a crucial but often neglected aspect of societal progress — women’s health. According to the report Closing the Women’s Health Gap: a $1 trillion Opportunity to Improve Lives and Economies, addressing the health disparities women face not only promises a leap towards gender equality but also unveils a pathway to economic prosperity. With women spending 25pc more of their lives in poor health compared to men, closing this gap is not just a moral imperative, but an economic necessity. Investing in women’s health promises a 1.7pc rise in per capita GDP and can turn every dollar put in into a threefold economic growth. In Pakistan, the urgency of this issue cannot be overstated. Pakistani women face a multitude of health challenges, exacerbated by limited access to quality healthcare, nutritional deficiencies, and societal norms that prioritise male health. The implications of these challenges are profound: they not only affect women’s quality of life, they also hamper their ability to participate fully in the workforce and, by extension, national economic development.

The initiative by the WEF to launch the Global Alliance for Women’s Health is a commendable step. For Pakistan, engaging with such global platforms can provide valuable insights and resources to tackle the health challenges Pakistani women face. The alliance’s focus on financing, science and innovation, and agenda-setting resonates with the approach needed to address health disparities in Pakistan. The findings of the report are a clarion call to action. Investing in women’s health transcends individual benefits — it is an investment in the very fabric of society. By prioritising women’s health, we can unlock potential, drive economic growth, and build a more equitable and prosperous future. As we stand at this critical juncture, the choice is ours: to continue the status quo or to recognise the link between women’s health and the nation’s wealth.

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2024