Women’s health outcomes play a critical role in economic productivity, yet Canadian women spend 24% more time than men in poor health, according to McKinsey research. More than half of the country’s ten most burdensome health conditions affect women differently or more severely, contributing to

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missed diagnoses and delayed treatment. Heart disease highlights the gap, as symptoms often present differently in women, leading to 78% of early warning signs going unrecognized. These disparities reduce workforce participation, strain families, and lead to increased long-term healthcare costs.

McKinsey experts argue that Canada needs a coordinated national or provincial strategy to address the women’s health gap through targeted disease prevention, earlier diagnosis, and improved care pathways. Focusing on conditions with the greatest impact could reduce premature deaths while strengthening household and community well-being. The research estimates that narrowing the gap could add up to $37 billion annually to the Canadian economy by 2040, positioning women’s health as both a public health priority and a long-term economic investment.

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