“WOMEN HEALTH FROM WOMB TO TOMB” WOMEN HEALTH IS ONE OF THE WHO’S HIGHEST PRIORITIES

Published: Jul 2019

Women health market across the globe have a very special place in the growth of family and nation. A mother is responsible for the birth of a child, and without her, there is no life. According to UN, the total number of women population across the globe was around 3.74 billion in 2017 and this number is anticipated to grow to 4.05 billion in 2025. The status of women directly reflects the health status of any nation. Owing to deteriorating quality of life, women’s health has become a major concern among the nations. Disease and disorders of the female reproductive system threaten the physical and emotional health of women globally. The common reproductive disorders that occur in women aged 41 to 60 are menopause, infections of reproductive tract and so on. In addition, women face various chronic disease such as breast cancer, lack of fertility, low bone mass (osteoporosis), STDs such as HIV, herpes and many more. Getting proper diagnosis for a women is the duty of government and family. Diagnosis and screening of such diseases may save millions of lives globally. Diagnosis and screening for women include MRI, mammography, lab-based testing, and blood tests. There is huge opportunity for diagnostic device manufacturers and investors in the global women health diagnostic market.

Many women lose their lives due to lack of access to medical treatment such as diagnosis and screening of chronic life threatening diseases. One of the major health related problems faced by women is pregnancy and fertility issues. There are more than 1 billion pregnant women across the globe and diagnosis tests such as lab-based testing, fertility monitors, and pregnancy testing and ovulation prediction kits are performed. To diagnose pregnancy related issues, women have many test kits, through which one can perform the test at home. Such test kits cost very low around $0.50 and are easily available online or at over the counter stores.

Many government organizations are pouring efforts on women diagnosis and screening to prevent women from major outbreaks. For instance, for screening of cervical cancer, American cancer society suggests that a woman should have PAP smear test every two years, starting at age 21. There are many government organizations that are supporting women health such as Office on Women Health, Center For Women Policy Studies, Gynecologic Cancer Foundation and so on. These government organizations support women for various disease outbreaks such as breast cancer, cervical cancer, osteoporosis, and HIVs. Most of these government organizations develop public private partnership by joining hands with private diagnostic centers, clinics, hospitals and other healthcare service providers to provide quality of services for the betterment of women patient pool at an affordable price.

CONCLUSION

Women health markets is a major burden for any government and nation. Favorable regulations for awareness campaigns regarding various chronic disease such as HIV, some cancer, osteoporosis should be started by the government in low income countries (though there are many campaign, but the rate of such campaign should be high).In addition, the government and private healthcare providers should offer free or discounted diagnosis and screening service to women in low income countries. The diagnostic devices face very strict FDA regulations in the commercialization process. These regulations should be smoothened and support to manufacturers should be provided to ensure maximum utilization of diagnostic products and services.