New Poll: Voters Want Federal Government to Invest More in Women's Health Research

WASHINGTON, DC (October 17, 2024 ) -- More than eight in ten voters believe that it's important for the National Institutes of Health to devote additional resources to understanding health conditions that primarily impact women. That's among the key findings of a new poll conducted by Morning Consult for the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO).

"Voters are surprised to learn that just 4% of biopharmaceutical research and development investment goes toward women's health issues," said Phyllis Arthur, Executive Vice President and Head of Healthcare Policy and Programs at BIO. "As this new survey makes clear, voters want their leaders to take action on women's health."

Key findings from the poll include:

• Low awareness of investment disparities: More than half of voters (54%) are unaware that women's health issues receive just 4% of biopharmaceutical research and development investment.
• Call for additional resources: A strong majority (86%) of voters say it is very important or somewhat important for additional resources to go toward understanding health conditions that primarily affect women.
• Voters are holding Congress and NIH accountable: Two-thirds of voters (66%) say they would be more likely to support their member of Congress if he or she voted for legislation that increased government incentives for women's health research and development. Four in five voters (81%) support requiring agencies like the National Institutes of Health to create detailed plans for increasing funding for women's health research.

The poll was conducted between September 24 and 26, 2024, among 1,742 registered voters. Interviews were conducted online, and the data was weighted to approximate a target sample of registered voters based on age, gender, race, educational attainment, 2020 presidential vote, and region.

Results from the full survey have a margin of error of +/- 2 percentage points depending on demographic group. Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

Click here to view the full results of the poll.

 

About BIO
BIO is the world's largest trade association representing biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products.