President Joe Biden has announced that he will be signing an executive order on Monday to expand U.S. government research on women’s health. The order aims to allocate $200 million in funding next year to improve the understanding of issues related to sexual and reproductive conditions, as well as eliminate gender gaps in research and explore the use of artificial intelligence in women’s health research.
Despite women living five years longer on average than men, they spend 25% more of their lives in poor health. This is due to disparities in clinical trials and research on conditions affecting women, which lags behind that of men. Biden has requested $12 billion in new funding for women’s health research, but securing additional financial commitments can be challenging in a politically divided legislature, especially during an election year.
The $200 million investment made by Biden is scheduled to take place in the 2025 fiscal year, starting in October. As Biden seeks another term in the upcoming November election, Democrats believe that emphasizing women’s healthcare issues could resonate with voters following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade abortion rights in 2022. President Biden’s efforts to advance women’s health research and address gender disparities in healthcare underscore his commitment to promoting equality and advancing women’s well-being.
