"It will help to advance research, diagnosis and treatment in areas that affect the lives of thousands of women in our country, and which have not received the necessary attention," said the president at an event on women and health research.

The President of the Government of Spain arrives at the Ortega-Marañón Foundation |Pool Moncloa / Carlos Herrero- 2026-06-14T22:00:00Z

Ortega-Marañón Foundation, Madrid

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, has presented the programme 'Somos. Contamos: Fin de la discriminación de las mujeres en la investigación de la salud' (We are. We count: Ending discrimination against women in health research), which will "triple investment in R&D specifically dedicated to women's health, reaching 18 million euros annually", and which demonstrates the "Government's significant commitment to this area".

At an event held at the Ortega-Marañón Foundation, which was also addressed by the Minister for Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant, and attended by the Minister for Health, Mónica García, and the Minister for Equality, Ana Redondo, the head of the Executive emphasised that this programme "will serve to boost research, diagnosis and treatment in areas that affect the lives of thousands of women in our country" and "which have not received the necessary attention".

This applies to chronic pain, autoimmune and thyroid conditions, cardiovascular and mental health, as well as the menopause and hormonal health. "The aim is to address structural inequality in biomedical research and innovation, which runs the length of the knowledge chain: from the questions that are asked to the solutions that reach doctors' surgeries and operating theatres," said Pedro Sánchez.

The initial package of measures under this programme is structured around three main areas of action. "Firstly, we are going to launch a specific initiative on women's health through the Centre for Technological Development and Innovation, with a clear aim: to encourage companies and research centres to carry out R&D projects in the field of women's health."

Secondly, by bolstering research through a "new funding stream for the Carlos III Health Institute". The ultimate aim is for the networked research centres to work collaboratively in these areas.

And, finally, through "measures aimed at strengthening the critical mass of research in these areas, with specific pre-doctoral contracts for projects in this field in the State Research Agency's main call for proposals".

Pedro Sánchez, who spoke of conditions that affect one in seven women and take almost a decade to be diagnosed - such as endometriosis - stressed that this is "something we cannot allow in today's Spain", and he asked: "If a disease affected one in seven men, causing chronic pain, difficulties at work and fertility problems, would we accept that it could take a decade to be diagnosed?" The answer is quite obvious: certainly not. "So, it is high time that we also answer 'no,' with the same clarity, when we talk about conditions that affect millions of women".

The President of the Government of Spain concluded by reiterating that "there can be no equality as long as science continues to respond better to some lives than others" and we continue to take years to diagnose diseases that affect millions of women. "It is a paradox that says a great deal about our past, challenges our present, but drives us to change the future" and, he emphasised, "that is what politics is for, too".