New York – September 25, 2026 -- Global healthcare, investment, philanthropy and government leaders convened at a roundtable on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly to address a women's health gap that the World Economic Forum projects could exceed $1 trillion annually by 2040 if unaddressed. The session, titled "The $1 Trillion Case for Women's Health," was convened by Burjeel Holdings, a super-specialty healthcare provider operating across the UAE, Oman and Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Ambassador Reema Bandar Al-Saud calls for lifelong, integrated women's healthcare investment
HRH Ambassador Reema Bandar Al-Saud, Saudi Arabia's envoy to the United States, opened the roundtable with a virtual address urging governments to treat women's physical and mental health as interconnected rather than episodic. She argued that no nation can rely on half its population to drive economic growth while leaving their healthcare needs to chance.
Burjeel cites cervical cancer decline in UAE as evidence scalable care models work
Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil, Chairman and CEO of Burjeel Holdings, led discussions with 23 leaders spanning health systems, investors, philanthropic organizations and multilateral bodies. He pointed to a decline in cervical cancer cases at the Burjeel Cancer Institute in the UAE over the past two years as clinical proof that targeted investment in women's healthcare produces measurable, scalable outcomes.
Burjeel previews integrated women's health model under development in Saudi Arabia for wider rollout
The Group disclosed collaborative initiatives underway in Saudi Arabia, including an integrated women's health delivery model designed for adaptation across other markets, including Africa and the broader Global South. Vayalil said any model must be evidence-based, culturally relevant and built around trusted, measurable success metrics covering prevention, diagnostics, cardiovascular health, cancer, reproductive health, and menopause and midlife care.
Atria Institute's Khadija Rejto says investors still treat women's health as a niche sector
Khadija Rejto, Chair of Global Health at the Atria Research and Global Health Institute, told participants that investors have long undervalued women's health despite it ranking among the fastest-growing healthcare sectors globally. Roundtable participants converged on three requirements for closing the gap: sustained investment in women's health systems, wider adoption of technology in care delivery, and new care models with demonstrated track records.