International Women’s Day 2025: Accelerate action for gender equality

Accelerating action for gender equality means moving beyond conversations to enacting tangible, measurable change. It’s about breaking down the systemic barriers that prevent women, particularly those from underserved communities, from accessing opportunities, leadership roles, and equitable healthcare. For me, it means ensuring women’s voices are heard, valued, and reflected in decision-making. It’s about actively creating environments where women succeed without having to navigate bias or discrimination.

True acceleration happens when we challenge the status quo, hold systems accountable, and invest in women’s education, health, and economic empowerment. It’s about collective responsibility for individuals, organisations, and society, to work together to create a future where gender equity is not just an ambition, but a reality.

I’m proud that at Health Innovation KSS, we’re committed to reducing these gender inequities and demonstrating this through our ongoing priorities and initiatives. This International Women’s Day, I would like to highlight our achievements so far, and thank my wonderful team for their hard work and dedication:

Supporting innovations in women’s health

Health Innovation KSS support the discovery, development and deployment of health and social care innovations. This includes working with innovators and partners in the women’s health space to improve health outcomes for women and increase access to care. We have supported MUTU to secure its first NHS contract where the product will be implemented in Medway Women’s Health Hub as an evidence-based digital postnatal recovery platform. This will allow postpartum mums in the region to access effective support at home, addressing pelvic floor issues and improving core function for women. Learn more about how we support innovators here.

Increasing awareness of gender bias in AI

Last month, we published new insights showing that the design and development of artificial intelligence (AI) systems are consistently failing women, especially women from ethnic minority backgrounds. Our comprehensive reports revealed that while AI has the potential to revolutionise healthcare, current technologies may be worsening rather than resolving existing health inequalities for women. If you would like to read our reports on gender and racial bias in healthcare AI systems and the barriers facing women in AI leadership positions, access them here.

Celebrating AI Visionaries in women’s health

Acknowledging outstanding pioneers behind ground-breaking advancements in women’s health and gender equity is critical to change. In January, we partnered with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) to do just that. We profiled individuals and teams whose work is making impactful change in AI for women’s health, female leaders in health AI, or work examining sex bias in AI. The exceptional calibre of our finalists shows we’re at a turning point where AI and technology can finally help close the gender health gap. Find out more about our AI Visionaries here.

Supporting discovery in women’s health research

As part of our work with Sussex Integrated care system, and through discussions with local women, we discovered gaps in healthcare access for women that could be addressed through research. Health Innovation KSS has partnered with University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust to establish the first regional Women’s Health Research Network. This collaborative has over 200 members from across sectors and aims to support and grow research focusing specifically on women’s health in Kent, Surrey and Sussex. Link in with us here to be part of this initiative.

Creating a safer experience for mothers and babies

We are committed to improving the safety and outcomes of maternal and neonatal care by reducing unwarranted variation, providing a high-quality healthcare experience for all women, babies, and families and ensuring culturally safe care across maternity and neonatal care settings. Health Innovation KSS are working with maternity and neonatal stakeholders in nine NHS Trusts across Kent and Medway, Surrey and Sussex, and partnering with maternity and neonatal voices and patient advisory groups. Our work on the Maternity and Neonatal Safety Improvement Programme (MatNeoSIP) can be accessed here.

This International Women’s Day is a powerful reminder that accelerating gender equality must start with action! By challenging inequalities and empowering women, we are striving to create a stronger, more inclusive community. When women thrive, everyone benefits.

If you’d like to find out more about our Women’s Health Strategy or are interested in collaborating with us, please get in touch.