Globally, 344 million people enter extreme poverty each year due to health expenses, even as women constitute 70% of the health workforce, according to Women in Global Health. The financial burden of 344 million people entering extreme poverty each year due to health expenses reveals a significant human cost, particularly in regions with limited resources and robust health systems.
Women comprise the overwhelming majority of the global health workforce. Yet, investment in development, crucial for their health and well-being, is declining as the 2030 deadline for global goals approaches.
Without a radical shift in investment and equitable access, global health and gender equality targets for 2030 will be missed, exacerbating existing crises.
The Widening Gap: Persistent Inequalities and Declining Investment
Inequality in income, education, and health persists. Investment in development remains on the decline, with the 2030 deadline approaching, according to a statement delivered at the 59th Session of the United Nations Commission on Population and Development (CPD59) on behalf of the Global Leaders Network for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health. The continued decline in investment exposes a critical failure to prioritize the foundational elements of women's well-being and global progress. Global development strategies appear to be failing to adequately invest in the human capital that could drive progress, particularly in health.
Based on PMNCH data, global leaders are effectively disarming the predominantly female health workforce at a critical juncture. Global leaders effectively disarming the predominantly female health workforce ensures health-related poverty will continue to spiral. The numerical strength of the female health workforce is not translating into effective universal health coverage or poverty prevention. The numerical strength of the female health workforce not translating into effective universal health coverage or poverty prevention suggests deep systemic inefficiencies or under-resourcing that negate their efforts.
