Auckland Bioengineering Institute senior research fellow Dr Jennifer Kruger and associate professor Kelly Burrowes say that increasing the number of women in STEM is crucial for developing healthcare solutions that cater to women's specific needs.

According to a 2021 survey, 41.5 percent of year 12 girls in New Zealand study STEM subjects, but this number drops to 19.8 percent at the tertiary level.

Dr Kruger and Professor Burrowes argue that diverse teams, including a gender balance, drive innovation and problem-solving.

The lack of female representation in STEM has led to gender-biased research and products, particularly in healthcare.

For instance, the FemTech industry, worth US$50 billion, aims to improve women's health through increased research and development of health technologies specifically for women.

In New Zealand, digital health solutions are being explored to address the current healthcare pressures, including lengthy waiting times.

The roll-out of at-home self-testing for HPV has shown promising results, with over 380,000 people tested since September 2023.

Dr Kruger and Professor Burrowes believe that increasing the number of women in STEM will lead to more innovative healthcare solutions that cater to women's specific needs.

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