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    FagartiklerAugust 10, 2025

    By closing the women's health gap, every woman can gain seven more healthy days in a year

    Increased focus on women's health is not just a political responsibility. It is also financially profitable. By closing the women's health gap, we can add NOK 80 billion to the Norwegian economy by 2040.

    Ved å lukke kvinnehelsegapet kan hver kvinne få syv flere friske dager i løpet av et år

    Increased focus on women's health is not just a political responsibility. It is also financially profitable.

    Dr. Madeleine Engen, gynecologist and co-founder of CMedical Women's Health

    By closing the women's health gap, we can add NOK 80 billion to the Norwegian economy by 2040, reports McKinsey and the World Economic Forum. An improved health service for women will result in fewer health challenges and a better quality of life, increased participation in working life and increased productivity.

    Women are 25% more ill than men

    We cannot talk about sickness absence without talking about women's health. Compared to men, women spend 25% more of their lives in poor health. This health gap is due to a lack of research and innovation, long diagnosis times and poor access to effective treatment for women's diseases.

    Women of working age bear the greatest burden of disease. After cancer and cardiovascular disease, gynecological health challenges are the third biggest cause of women's loss of life years in good health.

    Investments in women's health pay off

    McKinsey estimates that for every kroner invested in research and treatment of women's health challenges, three kroner is expected in economic growth. By closing the women's health gap, every woman can gain seven more healthy days in a year.

    How can we close the women's health gap?

    There are three measures in particular that can contribute to closing the women's health gap. Firstly, we need to raise knowledge and skills about women's diseases in both the population and the health system.

    Furthermore, we have to reduce the health queues and give women access to correct and effective treatment. Four out of five call for closer cooperation between public and private health services.

    Cooperation necessary

    There are already private health services that specialize in menopause, endometriosis and other gynecological health challenges. We have the expertise that is required and can contribute to a boost in knowledge and to relieve the burden on the public healthcare system.

    Let's work together to close the women's health gap in Norway. We all benefit from that.