Are 50% of the population missing out on more personalized healthcare?

Exploring the goals of ‘women-centric healthcare’ – what that truly means and how we get there

Author: Stephanie Sassman, Women’s Health Portfolio Lead, Genentech/Roche

The Women’s Health Strategy Team at Roche was established in September 2020 and represents a cross-company effort to bring forward integrated solutions and co-create an end-to-end patient experience in women's health (WH) with key healthcare system stakeholders around the world. The goal, put simply, is a commitment to a woman’s health at every step of her life.?

From Diagnostics to Diversity?

The WH portfolio at Roche starts with keeping women healthy, which for me is grounded in the diagnostic tests we offer. I am consistently amazed by the breadth of innovation we bring forward to transform WH. For example, I am proud that Roche has developed at least 80% of the tests that a woman might have during pregnancy to make sure she and the baby are healthy.[1] In addition, to support wellness generally, we pioneered the development of the test to detect human papillomavirus (HPV), which has been a game changer in the prevention of cervical cancer in women.?

I like to say that our efforts are about supporting women in wellness and not just during illness. Of course, if illness does become a part of a woman’s journey, it’s essential to ensure that personalized tests and medicines are available for conditions that clearly impact women far more than men, such as breast cancer and cervical cancer through to multiple sclerosis and lung cancer. It’s all about the much-needed recognition that different diseases have different rates of incidence, and different types of impact across the sexes and therefore we cannot provide adequate care in isolation of these facts.?

The following quote resonates with me: “a society is only as healthy and empowered as the women in that society.” Women are the gatekeepers of family life and family health; as this article leads with, they represent 50% of the world’s population and control 80% of the healthcare spend of their families.[2,3] So, if we can offer women more innovations to stay healthy, as well as help them when they're sick, I think that is of enormous benefit not just for women, but for society and the economy at large. Essentially, if you empower women and teach them about how to stay healthy, they are able to contribute so much more because they are the ones who keep their families healthy. An investment in WH is one of the best investments we can make. A report by Women’s Health Access Matters and RAND found that “a $40 million surge in funding for women's lung cancer would lead to $611 million in economic returns.”[4]

Future Trends and Goals for 2023?

Our goal at Roche, and my goal personally, is to see women-centric healthcare established as the ‘norm’ rather than a ‘nice to have.’ This goes back to our awareness that women are less likely to receive personalized care than men, which means that women are really missing out on part of the personalized healthcare revolution.?

Fundamentally, it begins with understanding ‘what is women-centric care?’ The definition changes depending on whom you speak to, so we have done our research: we’ve listened to women with breast, gynaecological and lung cancer and talked to doctors across the world in different geographies about what women-centric cancer care means and what it could look like. Common themes include more holistic and tailored care, and care that considers a woman's role in the family. It also includes the importance of empowering every woman to feel heard and make informed decisions about her health. So, a key aim for us is to unite all stakeholders around what we should all be aiming for – women-centric care. One of the things we have seen in recent years is the rise of ‘FemTech’ and start-ups being led by women, for women. The solutions they are advancing fill gaps in women-centric care that have existed for decades (or more likely forever).

Another goal is equitable access because where a woman lives shouldn't determine how or even if she lives. There are initiatives going on within Roche that are really transforming women's access and making sure that they are aware of screenings etc., such as the EMPOWER programme in Kenya. As a result of this programme and the powerful ‘first lady network’ of local advocates, women in rural Kenya can get screened for breast cancer, cervical cancer and for other non-communicable diseases like hypertension and diabetes, all in one visit. If this woman had gone to a regular hospital, she may have had to travel hundreds of kilometres, and the obstacle might have been insurmountable. But with a clinic closer to or within her community that includes multiple screenings, this becomes a touch point in the woman's life and a key part of keeping her well.?

In summary, to truly transform WH, we must reinforce its importance in global society and ensure equitable access to personalized healthcare. This takes into consideration a woman's individual choice, preference, personal circumstance, and stage of life – because WH is critical for every nation and society. I’ve heard it said that while women represent 51% of today’s population, they represent 100% of future generations. So, let’s start taking action to make WH a priority!?

I would love to hear more about what women-centric care means to you, the top challenges you feel need to be addressed in WH, or anything else you’d like to share in the comments below!

References

1. Roche data on file.?
2. The World Bank. Population, female (% of total population) [Internet; cited 2023 February]. Available from: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL.FE.ZS.?
3. Oliver Wyman. Women in Healthcare Leadership. [Internet; cited 2023 February]. Available from: https://www.oliverwyman.com/our-expertise/insights/2019/jan/women-in-healthcare-leadership.html.?
4. The Wham Report. Lung Cancer [Internet; cited 2023 February]. Available from: https://thewhamreport.org/report/lung/.