As the founder of The Female Body, a platform dedicated to informing and empowering women about their health and wellbeing, I had high hopes for the Autumn Budget 2024. Women’s health is chronically underfunded and under-researched, despite the undeniable impact these issues have on half the population.
A clear investment from the government into women’s health or femtech would have signalled progress toward closing this gap. Yet, as I review the budget, I see missed opportunities that, frankly, make it harder to envision real change for women’s health in the UK.
Healthcare Funding Without Female-Specific Support
The £22.6 billion boost to the NHS budget seems promising at first glance, but a closer look reveals an absence of targeted funding for female health concerns. While NHS waiting times may shorten overall, it’s unlikely that women’s health needs - such as support for conditions like endometriosis, PCOS, and menopause - will see direct improvements. These areas have traditionally received minimal attention within general healthcare funding, and the government’s lack of commitment to correcting this in the budget speaks volumes about how women’s health still isn’t a priority.
My platform regularly receives messages from women expressing frustration with long waits for specialists in areas that affect their reproductive and general health. These women are often left navigating a system that lacks resources and knowledge about female-specific issues. By not dedicating funds to address these disparities, the government is effectively telling us that women’s health will have to continue waiting.
Missed Potential for Femtech Innovation
In the last decade, femtech has emerged as a promising solution to the many healthcare gaps women face, with start-ups providing tools for menstrual tracking, menopause management, and more. These advancements empower women with the insights and control they need to better understand and manage their bodies. Yet, this budget made no mention of dedicated support for this sector.
Targeted government funding or incentives for digital health innovation in women’s health could drive more breakthroughs and improve healthcare access for women across the country. By neglecting femtech, the budget risks stalling progress on much-needed solutions that are reshaping how women manage their health.
Tax Increases: Added Pressure on Small Businesses
The budget’s tax increases - particularly the hike in Capital Gains Tax from 10% to 18% for basic rate taxpayers and 20% to 24% for higher earners - pose a new challenge for entrepreneurs. As a media platform focused on female health and wellbeing, we rely on investor support to grow and create more content that reaches more women. But with the prospect of reduced returns, some investors may hesitate, which could hinder not only our platform’s growth but also that of other female-led health initiatives. This tax structure could dampen innovation across the board, discouraging investment in new projects that would ultimately benefit women.
Where Do We Go from Here?
For founders and advocates of women’s health, this budget highlights how much work still needs to be done to secure recognition and resources for women’s unique healthcare needs. Women’s health should not be a secondary issue, nor should femtech and women-centred health media platforms have to fight for basic support. A budget that truly prioritised women would include targeted investments in both healthcare services and tech solutions, and it would empower small businesses and platforms like mine to thrive in an environment that values female wellbeing.
I hope that the lack of focus on women’s health in this budget sparks more conversations and pushes for change in future government policies. Women's health is not a niche issue; it's foundational to a thriving, healthy society. It’s time policymakers recognise this and put women’s health where it belongs - front and centre.
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