A new chapter for Women’s Health: Reform, funding and opportunity

The UK government published a renewed Women’s Health Strategy for England today, signalling a continued push to address long-standing gaps in how the healthcare system serves women. A notable feature is the introduction of a £1.5 million Femtech challenge fund, aimed at accelerating the adoption of innovative technologies with the potential to transform diagnosis, treatment and patient experience across women’s health. 

The Femtech challenge fund sits within a broader package of reforms designed to drive systemic change across the NHS. Alongside efforts to tackle gynaecology waiting lists and outdated practices around pain relief, the strategy places a notable emphasis on redesigning clinical pathways - particularly in areas such as menopause, heavy menstrual bleeding and urogynaecology - to speed up diagnosis and access to care.

The strategy signals a continued push towards digital and community-based care, including expanded diagnostic capacity and the use of online services to support women managing menstrual and menopausal symptoms. Backed by wider NHS investment and research funding - particularly through initiatives targeting unmet need and improving the representation of women in clinical research - the reforms point to a more data-driven and innovation-friendly ecosystem. The hope is that increased policy focus on women’s health, coupled with targeted funding and system reform, will create a more conducive environment for Femtech adoption and collaboration across industry, the NHS and the research community.

We will be watching out for further details on the Femtech challenge fund’s investment policy and criteria. The modest size of the fund may disappoint some in the sector, who will have been hoping for a more ambitious vehicle similar to the France’s Femtech fund (Femtech Île-de-France) which was launched in June 2025 with an initial €5 million and a target fund size of €50 million.  Nevertheless, if structured properly, this fund could be a valuable launchpad for startups in the sector who often find it difficult to access early capital.