Health inequalties

Women’s health

Women make up 51% of the UK population, but there is clear evidence to show that women are not receiving the same level of care, investigation or treatment for common and important diseases when compared to men. The consequence of this inequality is that women have demonstrable worse clinical outcomes in many significant disease areas than men.

Gender stereotyping and gender bias have led to a health care system which consistently delivers and accepts poorer health outcomes for women compared to men. Diagnosis and treatment are often based on male-centred research without consideration of the age dependent differences in the physiology of women. Women’s health needs are frequently considered only in terms of reproductive health which fails to capture the diverse needs of women, girls, and older women.

More work must be done to understand sex differences in pathophysiology, treatment response and effectiveness, as well as access to healthcare focused on reducing gender inequities.

Older woman in a wheelchair with younger smiling woman

Our mission

Our mission is to reduce health inequalities for women, by ensuring that all women have access to the best quality health and care.

Our Women’s health strategy draws heavily on recently published reports for women’s health in England including: “A Women’s Health Agenda: Redressing the Balance”, “Women’s Health Strategy for England“, and “Better for Women”. The UK government’s strategy is underpinned by strong qualitative evidence from 100,000 women across England and identifies a need for increased awareness of gender inequalities and better understanding of the impact of overlapping intersectional factors.

Download our Women’s Health strategy

Promise and perils of Artificial Intelligence in women’s health

AI holds transformative potential to reshape healthcare delivery and bridge these gaps. Its power to boost efficiency, meet growing healthcare demands, and improve patient care is remarkable. But without careful implementation, AI could unintentionally deepen the inequities we’re trying to solve, especially for women.

As part of our women’s health programme, we have been taking action by commissioning new work and spotlighting groundbreaking innovations at the intersection of AI and women’s health. By showcasing success stories and fostering open dialogue, we’re helping stakeholders identify critical areas for improvement and setting new standards for inclusive healthcare technology.

Key projects in this space include:

AI Visionaries – a joint 2025 campaign with DHSC focusing on celebrating outstanding pioneers behind groundbreaking advancements in women’s health and gender equity through AI.
Original research exploring women’s leadership and gender bias in AI for healthcare, commissioned by Health Innovation KSS.
Interviews with medical experts on real-world challenges and perceived opportunities to address gender bias and AI

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News and case studies

Contact us

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

Get in touch

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Sex and gender data

View Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex’s Position on Sex and Gender Data here.

Learn more