how to close the women’s health gap in canada: leading organizations release action plan
putting the plan into action could help address conditions accounting for more than 75 per cent of the gap, but stakeholders across all sectors must get on board.
published mar 03, 2026
4 minute read
4 minute read
women represent 51 per cent of the population, yet women’s health research receives just 7 per cent of national research funding. getty
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more than 32,000 canadians were diagnosed with lung cancer in 2025. of those, 54 per cent were women. yet, despite the disproportionate number of women who are diagnosed with lung cancer, only 39 per cent of participants in canadian clinical trials for lung cancer are female. this flawed gender representation is a highlight of the blueprint for action on women’s health, a report developed by women’s health collective canada (whcc) through a pro bono partnership with knowledge partner mckinsey & company canada.
the whcc blueprint titled leading beyond the gap: closing the women’s health gap in canada, builds on an analysis published by the mckinsey health institute in october 2025, which found that investing in women’s health to close the gender gap could boost the canadian economy by $37 billion annually by 2040. the mckinsey analysis amplified a growing momentum for change in women’s health and identified a clear need for coordinated, national action.
drawing on data and insights from the mckinsey health institute and informed by expert input from physicians and researchers across whcc’s national network, the blueprint for action identifies key actions required to close the women’s health gap and position canada as a global leader in women’s health.
“as women make up more than half of canada’s population, an increasing proportion of the labour force, and an expanding share of wealth ownership, the future of the country, and the well-being of the next generation, depends on decisive action. canada cannot afford to overlook the health of half its population,” says amy flood, executive director, whcc.
the blueprint identifies three priority conditions that together account for more than 75 per cent of the women’s health gap. these include cancer care, cardiovascular disease, and brain and mental health disorders.
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of these, cardiovascular disease contributes to over 29 per cent of the women’s health gap and 61 per cent of the health gap stems from lower treatment efficacy in women – the result of a lack of understanding of women-specific symptoms, limited research and under-representation in clinical trials.
in canada, one woman dies every 20 minutes from heart disease, and in 2019, 20 per cent more women than men died of heart failure — despite a similar incidence of the condition. all of this underscores the unequal burden of disease that women face compared to men and the need to build knowledge and develop better care pathways for women.
“in practice, it means i’m often caring for women using evidence that wasn’t designed with their bodies, hormones or life stages in mind,” says dr. sheila wijayasinghe, family physician and a women’s health expert from women’s college hospital who helped shape the development of the blueprint.
when the evidence doesn’t reflect women’s lives, the outcomes suffer. we see later diagnoses, symptoms being dismissed or misattributed and treatments that are less effective or have avoidable side effects. these harms are magnified for women who are racialized, living with lower income or navigating multiple barriers within the health-care system, says wijayasinghe.
to address these persistent disparities, the blueprint outlines four categories of action titled we know, we care, we invest, and we empower – which together form a roadmap for meaningful change in women’s health. these actions emphasize the need to standardize data, formalize sex-specific care and embed sex and gender considerations across health education. they call for a scaling of research funding and women’s health innovation, while equipping women to take charge of their health, supporting women’s career trajectories and elevating women-led philanthropy.
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“a national women’s health strategy in canada is long overdue,” says flood. “women represent 51 per cent of the population, yet women’s health research receives just 7 per cent of national research funding. this imbalance is no longer defensible.”
the blueprint for action marks a deliberate shift from naming the women’s health gap to closing it. as a core pillar of whcc’s work in the years ahead, the blueprint provides a practical, evidence-based roadmap for change.
partnerships will be central to putting the blueprint into action. the whcc is working with partners across canada, including desjardins insurance, to bring attention to the blueprint’s recommendations and the need that inspired it.
“we believe women deserve to be supported in their health and well‑being at every stage of life,” says chantal gagné, president and chief operating officer, desjardins financial security. “the blueprint for action shines a light on gaps that too many women experience and offers a clear path forward. we’re proud to support women’s health collective canada in raising awareness and helping move evidence‑based solutions into action, for the benefit of women, their families and communities across the country.”
ultimately, the whcc’s wants to see a national women’s health strategy developed and formally committed to at the federal level.
“the actions outlined in the blueprint are intended to meaningfully inform that strategy, providing a practical roadmap to align government, industry, health care, research and community sectors around a shared goal: closing the women’s health gap and securing a healthier, more prosperous future for canada,” says flood.
the blueprint for action is now available on the whcc website and will be formally presented at an upcoming keynote at vitally important: a national women’s health summit, from march 24-25, 2026, positioning it as both a catalyst for dialogue and a tool for action.
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this story was provided by women’s health collective canada for commercial purposes.
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