International Women’s Day is not just a moment for reflection – it’s a call to action. While we celebrate progress, the persistent gaps in women’s health research, workplace equity, and policy implementation demand urgent attention. Women’s health remains underfunded, under-researched, and undervalued – not just in medicine, but across the workplace and economy.
2025 is the , as we bring researchers, practitioners, and communities together to shine a spotlight on health inequalities, particularly those affecting women. At UEL, we know that to make further progress on women’s health equity, we need to properly fund research in this area. Pre- the 1990s, women were rarely included in clinical trials. Today, the medical field still doesn’t know how well many drugs and devices work for women: women are still vastly , particularly in oncology, neurology, immunology, psychiatry and cardiovascular studies and shockingly, the longest NHS waiting lists are in women’s health.
This health knowledge gap affects us all – families, workplaces, and entire economies suffer as women are held back. The gender health gap costs the UK economy billions each year, with global disparities leading to an estimated $1 trillion in lost productivity annually. Addressing women’s health is not just a moral imperative – it’s an economic necessity.
UEL is leading the charge in pioneering research that tackles key issues in women’s health. One stark example is : a study last year found that one in four women take time off work due to menstrual symptoms, yet only 27% feel comfortable disclosing this to their employer. Millions suffer in silence from conditions like endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome, with the economic cost of absenteeism from severe period pain alone exceeding .
45% of women experiencing menopause, too, say that they feel symptoms have had a negative impact on their work, and 47% of those who have had to take a day off work due to menopause symptoms say they wouldn’t tell their employer the real reason.
To support women effectively, we must break this culture of silence, and ensure that everyone is able to access the information and support they need. Our research at UEL is shedding light on the hidden toll of menstrual health issues and how simple interventions – better education, policy adjustments, and workplace support – can help women thrive professionally.
Beyond the workplace, our studies in early years development and maternal health highlight the long-term benefits of investing in women’s wellbeing. With during pregnancy or the first postnatal year, early intervention is critical. Through groundbreaking work at our , UEL is demonstrating how maternal wellbeing directly impacts child development, resilience, and lifelong outcomes.
Businesses that support working mothers through flexible work, enhanced parental leave, or partnerships with childcare and healthcare providers, are not just supporting individual employees; they are investing in the next generation of talent. If businesses are serious about attracting and retaining talent, they must move beyond passive support to active leadership, implementing flexible work policies, funding women’s health research, and embedding genuine support for women at all life stages.
At UEL, we are tackling these challenges head-on. As a careers-first university, we are committed to ensuring that our graduates – 60% of whom are women – enter workplaces that prioritise their health and wellbeing. Prioritising women’s health leads to higher productivity, reduced absenteeism, and better workforce retention. Yet for too long, it has been treated as an afterthought rather than an economic priority.
launched by the Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan last week, presents an opportunity to change this narrative, placing inclusive talent development and innovation at the heart of the capital’s future economy. To realise its ambition, universities and businesses must collaborate more closely, not just in skills development, but in driving research and policy solutions that support women’s health in the workplace. London’s universities, including UEL, are home to cutting-edge research that can shape employer policies, inform government strategy, and drive systemic change. But to maximise impact, we need stronger bridges between academia, industry, and policymakers.
International Women’s Day is about action, not just awareness. The businesses that lead on women’s health today will be the workplaces that thrive tomorrow. Together, through research, innovation, and collaboration, we can ensure that women’s health is recognised as the economic and social priority it truly is.
Let’s not wait — let’s act.