SEATTLE – The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged $2.5 billion to accelerate women’s health innovation worldwide, with Pakistan identified as one of the key focus countries. The initiative aims to expand access to maternal care, reproductive health services, and medical research benefiting women in low‑ and middle‑income nations.
The announcement was made during the foundation’s global health summit, where co‑chair Melinda French Gates emphasized that investing in women’s health is critical to improving family well‑being, economic growth, and long‑term community resilience.
The funding will support research into new technologies, affordable treatments, and healthcare delivery systems tailored for women, particularly in underserved regions. It will also prioritize innovations in maternal health, contraception, and prevention of life‑threatening conditions such as preeclampsia and postpartum hemorrhage.
Pakistan, along with several countries in Africa and South Asia, is expected to receive targeted assistance under the initiative due to persistent challenges in maternal mortality, limited healthcare infrastructure, and gaps in women‑centered medical research.
Global health experts praised the commitment as a milestone for gender‑focused healthcare initiatives, noting that empowering women through better health outcomes can drive sustainable social and economic development.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.