Healthcare isn’t working the same for everyone. Our healthcare systems have historically been designed with ‘male as default’, from research and clinical trials, to education and training for health professionals, to the design of policies and services. On top of that, women tend to bear the brunt of caregiving responsibilities, are less likely to be financially secure, and many health issues like menstruation, infertility, and menopause continue to be seen as taboo. The issue is complex and multi-faceted, with factors that extend beyond what we typically consider when we think about “healthcare.” Each of these interconnected drivers contribute to the gender health gap.
Organizations are beginning to wake up to the gender health gap and think of new and out-of-the-box ways to bridge it and improve health outcomes for women and girls. In this panel, we will invite representatives working in Femtech, venture philanthropy, and private insurance to have a candid discussion about the gender health gap.
Where do we see the most egregious gaps in their day-to-day? How are public and private players in the health system stepping up? What role will technology play and how can we catalyze investment in the femtech space? How can we generate and translate advances in women’s health into practice? What needs to change if we are to scale what works and accelerate progress to close the gender health gap?
We will bring diverse perspectives to this discussion, including:
• LEAP Pecaut Centre for Social Impact transforms health, education, and employment by investing in measurable impact, identifying game-changing social ventures with exceptional leaders, and supporting them to scale and be sustainable. LEAP has built a unique model of venture philanthropy that unleashes the potential of collaboration and engages the unique expertise and resources of corporate, private, government and community partners toward collective impact related to some of Canada’s most urgent and complex social issues. LEAP’s portfolio consists of 30 social ventures and has impacted the lives of over six million people.
• Femtech Canada exists to inspire entrepreneurs to lead in women’s health innovation. It connects Canadian Femtech companies with the resources and recognition they deserve. Femtech Canada values technology that is innovative and enriches the lives of the end-user. It believes in building a network that is intentional, intersectional, and inclusive. Femtech’s founder Rachel is working on her second business, Hyivy Health, focused on creating a medical device for women with pelvic floor conditions after her own cervical cancer battle in 2019.
• Sun Life is global a financial services company in the business of helping clients achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives. As a leader in Group Benefits, Group Retirement Services and Individual Insurance and Wealth, Sun Life offers a full range of trusted products and services that put its clients’ needs first. Sun Life is building sustainable, healthier communities and is looking for new and innovative ways to provide long-term value to Clients, employees, shareholders and communities.
Closing the gender health gap is challenging and will require creativity, perseverance, and multi-sectoral collaboration. This panel will cover some of the questions we will need to answer if we are to take collective action to fill the prescription for health parity.
