Women's health, Inc

• Published in: The Lancet (British edition) Vol. 401; no. 10384; pp. 1258 - 1259
• Main Authors: Bruch, Joseph Dov, Richardson, Sarah S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 15-04-2023; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Aggression; Empowerment; Female; Health care industry; Humans; Private equity; Private medical care; Profitability; Reproductive health; Sexual health; Social interactions; Women's Health; Womens health; United States > US
• ISSN: 0140-6736; 1474-547X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)00736-5

Management consulting firms such as McKinsey & Company and Deloitte have taken note of the women's health trend in industry reports, signalling to business leaders that pivoting into this industry can unlock profit opportunities and enhance brand marketing strategies. Yet the rise of private equity investment in this area raises considerations about the value to the people at the other end of the transaction, who seek quality care essential to their health, reproductive freedom, and flourishing. Private equity's profit maximisation strategies may undermine reproductive justice if they negatively affect the quality, affordability, and accessibility of reproductive and sexual health-care services. [...]over time, hospital WHCs shifted from women-centred to revenue-centred services as they became corporate-owned. [...]if profits are not maintained, companies may change course and disinvest, dismantling care that patients rely on.