Issue #66 – What’s next for women’s health

Hello and welcome to the 66th edition of your go-to source for weekly updates on women’s health innovation and FemTech, both in India and around the world.

In an exciting development at the World Economic Forum in Davos, India takes center stage with the “We Lead” Lounge – a powerful symbol of our nation’s commitment to amplifying women’s voices in global leadership. 

Union Minister for Women & Child Development, Smriti Irani, joins the Indian delegation, amplifying our commitment to empowering women on the global stage. 

As a young woman living in India, It fills me with pride and excitement to witness our country taking a bold stance on such a crucial issue. India’s journey has been one of constant evolution. And now, we stand at the forefront of a global movement, paving the way for a future where women not only participate but lead the charge. 

A beacon of hope shines – FemTech. This revolution, led by women and focused on females, is reshaping the narrative.

Here’s what excites me about what’s next for women’s health. 

Union minister Smriti Irani on Tuesday made a strong pitch for bigger investments in women-led businesses. Lauding the role played by small businesses run by women across the country, she said the opportunity lies in taking the success stories of women-led businesses and making them attain more and more scale and size. 

The huge health gap between women and men costs the world a whopping $1 trillion, the World Economic Forum. Despite living longer than males, women spend 25 per cent more time in bad health. To address these concerns, the World Economic Forum and the McKinsey Health Institute have published a new insight study as part of the Forum’s Women’s Health Initiative. 

💪  Full Report 

And it’s not just about money. Let’s not forget the 75 million years of life lost  annually due to this gender gap – that’s a week of health stolen from every woman, every year. 

While it’s encouraging to see increasing awareness around women’s health, it’s also evident that in our efforts to expand access, a one-size-fits-all approach does not work. We also know that women today are increasingly looking for a better healthcare experience that meets their unique requirements during different life stages. What’s promising is that much of the technology necessary for this approach already exists. Mobile apps and AI-augmented solutions, for example, can extend the reach of existing services and offer new ways to deliver customized care for women. 

The complexity lies in how we maximize the innovations we have at our fingertips today – and expand their application to drive impact at scale. 

A call to action, emphasizing collaboration as the key to unlock technology’s full potential. 

I’d love to hear what you’re working on. 

Stay in touch by following me on Linkedin 

Navneet 🙂 

• Chennai-based multi-specialty hospital chain Medway Hospitals has  secured its first round of institutional equity funding amounting to $5 million.
• Health and wellness startup Zingavita has raised INR 10 Cr (around $1.2 Mn) in its pre-Series A funding round led by Anicut Capital. 
• Glamplus, a SaaS-enabled B2B beauty and wellness marketplace, has raised INR 16.5 Cr (almost $2 Mn) in a pre-Series A funding 

• NEXT Life Sciences, the creator of the male contraceptive product Plan A, recently announced a successful $2.5 million funding round to advance the launch of its innovative solution into the market.
• Nest Collaborative, a telehealth platform specializing in lactation support, has recently completed a $6 million Series A funding round, bringing its total funding to over $10 million.
• The US biopharma company Granata Bio has secured US$14m in Series A funding to develop new fertility treatments.

• In India, some community health workers are trying to navigate climate change and menopause, by 2025, over a billion women will have experienced the menopause, and their individual experiences are often ignored or sidelined. Given how underresearched menopause is, we are yet to see what impact rising global temperatures will have on women. 
• Scientists believe that aging can increase the spread of ovarian and other cancers, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully clear.
• DBS Bank India, in collaboration with CRISIL, released a report underscoring the significant involvement of 98 per cent of employed and self-employed women in India in the process of making long-term family decisions. 
• FDA cleared Osteoboost, the first device-based, non-pharmacological prescription treatment for postmenopausal women diagnosed with osteopenia. 
• Nature Portfolio Journal features groundbreaking Flo study on acute stress impact on women’s pain perception during Russia-Ukraine conflict. 
• Acetaminophen Use in Pregnancy Linked to ADHD in Kids, While acetaminophen is deemed the safest painkiller during pregnancy, the study reveals a trend where higher usage, especially in the second trimester, corresponds to more attention-related problems and ADHD-type behaviors in children. 
• BMI cut-offs for IVF care are inconsistent and may have discriminating implications, a new study of 32 UK fertility clinics has shown.
• A US-based incubator has officially launched in the US and the UK to support genomics start-ups.
• The global fertility rate is declining and most governments are failing to recognise and address the impact on economies and societies, a group of doctors has warned.
• Insurance cover under Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme likely to be doubled.

• British Columbia is aiming to eliminate cervical cancer in the province with the launch of Canada’s first at-home self-screening program.
• Pearsanta Acquires MDNA’s Mitomic Platform for Endometriosis and Ovarian Cancer Detection for $25M
• Marius Pharmaceuticals, a company dedicated to developing therapies for testosterone deficiency, has launched a pilot study focusing on the effects of its oral testosterone therapy
• California-based Vivoo, an app that provides nutrition and lifestyle advice based on at-home urine tests has launched a smart UTI test.

• Niramai CEO, Geetha Manjunath, met with President Smt. Droupadi Murmu as part of ‘The President with the People’ initiative at Rashtrapati Bhavan today.
• Allo Health has announced a unique Fellowship Program in Sexual Medicine, tailored for MBBS graduates to engage in hands-on clinical experiences to contribute meaningfully to the evolving landscape of sexual medicine in India.
• Hempstreet released a thoughtware on the correlation between insomnia and hypertension
• Newmi has announced its Newmi HealthFirst Cards, a women’s health care membership and a guide for women’s health.
• Tamanna Singh, founder Menoveda was featured by Ashutosh Gard from The Brand Called you and spoke about her entrepreneurial journey and her vision for Menoveda.

• The life sciences industry in the country has urged the Union Finance Ministry to implement zero or minimal GST on healthcare services in the Union Budget for 2024-25.

• 3D Printing in Healthcare: From Surgical Tools to Organ Transplant Breakthroughs enabling design possibilities, finding niche application in a range of fields
• The Chemistry of Beauty: How Retinoids Enhance Skin Health. Retinoids, the vitamin A derivatives are responsible for regulating several physiological activities
  
• Healthcare industry seeks higher budget allocation and rationalisation of GST among others.

See you next Friday, friends 👋

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