Why strengthening diagnostic capacity is key to achieving gender and health equity

The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action is one of the most ambitious global frameworks for achieving gender equality and women's empowerment. Adopted at the fourth World Conference on Women in 1995, it laid out a bold vision across 12 critical areas, including health, education, economic participation and political leadership. As we approach its 30th anniversary this year, this milestone allows us to reflect on our progress and identify what is still needed to achieve gender equality.

Women's health is central to this agenda – a fundamental pillar for achieving equality. When women have access to quality healthcare, they can pursue education, participate in the workforce and contribute fully to their communities.

Despite advancements in women's healthcare, however, barriers persist, including gaps in access to timely screening and accurate diagnostics. These gaps continue to contribute to disparities in health outcomes. Improving women's health is essential for realizing the broader goals of the Beijing Declaration and investing in diagnostics should be a top priority in improving women’s health.

Strengthening diagnostic capacity is essential for improving women’s health outcomes and reducing disparities in access to care. Accurate and timely diagnoses are the foundation of effective healthcare, informing prevention, treatment and long-term disease management. Although in vitro diagnostics (IVDs) testing (which detects disease, conditions and infections) accounts for less than 5% of healthcare spending, it affects nearly 70% of clinical decisions, highlighting its crucial role.

Take cervical cancer – a largely preventable and treatable disease when detected early. High-risk HPV infections (hr-HPV), the primary cause of cervical cancer, can be identified through high-performance screening tests endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO). Early detection significantly improves survival rates; over 90% of women diagnosed at an early stage of cervical cancer can survive for five years or more, compared to less than 20 % for those diagnosed at a late stage. Expanding access to accurate and timely screening could prevent millions of unnecessary deaths and unlock significant economic and social benefits.

A report from the McKinsey Health Institute and World Economic Forum highlights that a comprehensive approach to tackling cervical cancer – encompassing vaccination, screening, diagnosis and treatment – can unlock an estimated 2.4 billion disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) annually and contribute an additional $10 billion to the global GDP, underscoring the critical need for investment in women’s health.

Beyond cervical cancer, diagnostics are equally critical for other conditions that impact women, like preeclampsia and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), where early identification can transform health outcomes.

Preeclampsia, a life-threatening hypertensive disorder that occurs during pregnancy, is a leading cause of maternal and fetal mortality. It contributes to 76,000 maternal deaths and 500,000 fetal deaths globally each year. Left undiagnosed, preeclampsia can result in serious complications, including stroke and maternal death, while also increasing the risk of preterm birth, low birthweight and neonatal complications. Since no medical treatment exists, early detection and risk assessment through screening are vital to ensuring timely interventions that protect mothers and their babies.

Similarly, PCOS is one of the most common yet underdiagnosed endocrine disorders, affecting 6–13% of reproductive-aged women worldwide – yet 70% remain undiagnosed. PCOS extends beyond reproductive health, significantly increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and mental health disorders. By enabling early identification, diagnostics play a pivotal role in managing symptoms, preventing complications and improving long-term health outcomes.

Women live longer than men, yet they experience more years of poor health. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the importance of screening and diagnostics in managing disease response and improving health outcomes. As countries strengthened diagnostic capacity in response to the pandemic, we can leverage these advancements to drive progress toward the Beijing+30 vision of gender equity in health.

Diagnostics go beyond tools for disease detection – they enable risk assessment, prevention and early intervention, ensuring timely, quality-assured and affordable care. This is the foundation of health equity, reducing disparities in access and quality of care. An accurate and timely diagnosis empowers women with informed choices, enabling them to seek care sooner, effectively manage conditions and improve long-term health outcomes.

For instance, fertility awareness remains low, with many women seeking interventions only when their fertility is already in decline. Early diagnostic testing for ovarian reserve, however, can help women make proactive decisions about their reproductive health. Similarly, advancements in self-collection for cervical cancer screening and mobile ultrasounds are bringing care closer to women, ensuring greater accessibility and choice.

Investing in accessible, innovative diagnostics is not a cost – it is an investment in sustainable health systems that empower women, reduce health inequities and drive economic growth. Achieving the Beijing+30 vision requires collaboration across sectors. No single entity can do it alone.

⦁ Governments must integrate diagnostics into national health strategies, mobilize funding and expand national essential diagnostics lists to include diagnostics for conditions that primarily affect women and those that predominantly impact women.

⦁ Global health stakeholders should foster public-private partnerships to expand access to diagnostic solutions that enable early detection, informed decision-making and better health management.

⦁ The private sector must continue to innovate, ensuring affordable, quality diagnostics that improve women’s health outcomes. Tools, such as the [w]Health Index, can help organizations assess their current efforts, identify gaps and take actionable steps towards closing the gender health gap.

By working together, we can strengthen diagnostic capacity and ensure that all women – regardless of geography or socioeconomic status – have timely access to the care they need.

Diagnostics are at the heart of women's health equity, from preventing cancer to safeguarding pregnancies and improving accurate diagnosis of conditions like heart attacks, which are often misdiagnosed in women. As we mark 30 years since the Beijing Declaration, investing in accessible, high-quality diagnostics must be prioritized to advance global gender and health equity goals. A world where every woman has access to the diagnostics they need is a step closer to achieving gender equity in health.

Anna Bode, Principal at Kearney also contributed to this article.

This blog is published as part of the [w]Health platform — a global initiative created by Kearney to drive meaningful progress in women’s health. Through commitment, collaboration and co-creation, [w]Health brings together diverse stakeholders to share insights, develop innovative solutions and inform the regulatory and policy changes needed to accelerate impact.