The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is committing $2.5 billion over the next decade to improve women’s health, focusing on conditions like preeclampsia, endometriosis, and menopause that have long been neglected.
The investment will support research, product development, and increased access to these services globally, aiming to address decades of underfunding in this area. Founder Bill Gates said the current state of women’s health is “ignored, underfunded, and sidelined,” and that action must be taken to prevent unnecessary deaths and improve overall well-being.
The $2.5 billion will focus on five key areas: obstetric care, maternal immunization, gynaecological health, contraceptive innovation, and sexually transmitted infection prevention. The goal is to kick-start research and develop products, while ensuring equitable access worldwide.
Critics argue that the investment falls short of what’s needed, with Dr. Anita Zaidi, head of gender equality at the Foundation, acknowledging that only 1% of healthcare research and innovation goes towards female-specific conditions beyond cancer.
The $2.5 billion pledge is part of Gates’ broader plan to give away his $200 billion fortune by 2045. His ex-wife, philanthropist Melinda French Gates, has also committed to increasing support for women’s health initiatives since leaving the Foundation last year.
Source: https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20250804-gates-foundation-pledges-2-5-billion-to-ignored-underfunded-women-s-health