Too many women face a "diagnostic odyssey" at the doctor's office. This $20 billion plan could change things.

Key Points:

• Women live longer than men but experience more illness partly because women's health has been historically under-researched and underfunded, with only 5 cents spent on women's health for every dollar in global medical research.
• The Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR) is advocating for a $20 billion, 10-year federal roadmap in the U.S. to improve women's health through increased research, education, and clinical training, addressing the persistent gender health gap.
• Despite the NIH requiring inclusion of women in clinical research only since 1993, funding for women's health remains below 10%, contributing to delayed diagnoses and insufficient understanding of conditions like cardiovascular disease and menopause.
• Closing the gender health gap is seen as beneficial for the entire nation, as women make most healthcare decisions for families, and inclusive research can help reduce racial disparities in healthcare outcomes.
• The SWHR's plan focuses on five funding areas: research and innovation, agency coordination, clinician education, data collection improvement, and health literacy, while urging women to advocate for themselves and seek reliable health information during medical visits.