AI and Women’s Health Equity Discussed at TIME100 Forum

At the TIME Women’s Leadership Forum in New York City on September 10, experts discussed the significant barriers women face in accessing health care. Dorothy Kilroy, Kulleni Gebreyes, and Kate Ryder highlighted issues such as the 'pink tax,' which results in women paying more out-of-pocket for health services. They emphasized that the health care system often fails to recognize the physiological and social differences between genders, leading to inequities in treatment and care. Kulleni Gebreyes pointed out that many women delay seeking care due to factors like childcare responsibilities, which exacerbates the existing disparities. Kate Ryder stressed the importance of rebuilding trust in the health care system, particularly among marginalized communities, where nearly half of births are financed by Medicaid. Providing accessible and trustworthy providers is crucial for improving health outcomes. The panelists also noted the historical lack of data on women’s health, which has hindered progress in equitable care. It wasn't until the early 1990s that women were mandated to be included in clinical trials, highlighting a long-standing oversight in medical research. This gap in data has contributed to the ongoing challenges women face in receiving appropriate health care. The discussion underscored the potential of artificial intelligence to address these issues by providing better access to health information and tools for interpretation. By leveraging AI, there is an opportunity to empower women with more agency in their health care decisions, ultimately leading to a more equitable health care system.