Women's Health Action Plan
The 2026 Women’s Health MedTech Summit, Australia’s first of its kind and delivered by MTAA, convened nearly 200 participants spanning industry, academia, investment, startups, clinical care and government on 27–28 May 2026.
Across the program, one message came through clearly, and repeatedly. We need to BE BOLD in how we design, fund, regulate and deliver innovation for women’s health to close the gap that has taken decades to form.
The reality is stark. Women spend 25% more of their lives in poorer health than men, a gap driven not by biology alone, but by how health systems, research and innovation have been structured. This was echoed throughout the Summit, with clear impacts identified across workforce participation, productivity, and representation in research, leadership and decision-making.
The opportunity is just as significant. Closing this gap could unlock over $1 trillion in global economic benefit annually by 2040, positioning women’s health not just as a clinical priority, but as a major economic and workforce imperative.
This Summit was a catalyst - and the window to shape what comes next is now.
From Summit to Action
MTAA is progressing Australia’s first Women’s Health Policy Group, directly informed by the priorities and insights surfaced across the Summit.
This work will focus on:
- advocating for policy settings that prioritise women in research, regulation and funding
- strengthening the evidence base to better reflect real-world outcomes for women
- supporting innovation designed for women from the outset
Get involved
- Download and share the Action Plan
- Join the Women’s Health Policy Group - Expressions of Interest are now open. Closing 31 July 2026.
We are bringing together a targeted group of contributors across the ecosystem - and positions will be limited. Because improving outcomes for women is critical to a more effective, equitable - and economically resilient - health system.
And this work has already started.
Download the plan now
