Two out of every three women die from noncommunicable diseases, or NCDs – long-lasting conditions like heart disease and diabetes – driven by a mix of genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioral factors. NCDs have an even greater burden women in low and middle-income countries, where access to prevention, diagnosis and early-stage care is often limited. These challenges were front and center at the FOKUS Patient Future Days 2026, recently convened in Stockholm, Sweden.
Addressing the growing burden of NCDs in women – while prioritizing wellness through prevention, screening and early-stage treatment – is a core focus of the Partnership for Women’s Wellness. To help amplify this mission on a global stage, PWW was officially launched at FOKUS Patient Future Days 2026 during a fireside chat that celebrated the coalition’s debut and highlighted the power of advocacy in raising awareness and informing policies that prioritize women’s wellness.
Why Early Action Matters – for Patients and Policymakers
As a project of the independent non-profit Global Alliance for Patient Access, PWW advocates for an “early is better” approach to women’s health. That focus came to life during the fireside chat between Brian Kennedy, Executive Director of the Global Alliance for Patient Access, and Penilla Gunther, founder of FOKUS Patient Future Days. They discussed the need for greater advocacy focused on addressing the disproportionate impact of NCDs on women and the disproportionate benefit of prioritizing prevention and women’s access to screening, early-stage diagnosis and treatment. The candid conversation highlighted not only the need for lived people shared lived experience to be supported by solid evidence.
The message was clear: Policies are strongest when they’re grounded in the lived experiences of patients and backed by solid evidence. As Penilla shared, “The work must reach policymakers. That means advocates and patients must first be well-informed so they can bring credible, compelling information forward. Those are the tools we need to do our jobs and influence policymakers in a meaningful way.”
Exploring Strategies to Improve Prevention, Care Access and Advance Patient-Centered Policy
Beyond the fireside chat, the conference explored how prevention, early detection and coordinated care can reduce the global burden of NCDs. Sessions highlighted major advances in cardio-kidney-metabolic disease, cancer, brain health, migraine, obesity and patient safety, alongside a persistent gap between innovation and access.
While effective, cost-saving therapies and screening tools exist, too many patients face barriers due to lack of primary and community care capacity. Across disease states, panelists emphasized the need for integrated, patient-centered care, as well as a stronger investment in prevention and early detection. A recurring call to action emerged: health systems must move upstream, listen to patient voices and work across sectors to ensure that innovation translates into real-world impact – especially for women, who often experience higher disease burden, greater disruption into quality of life and inequitable access to care. These conversations reinforced the value of PWW’s work to advance an “early is better” approach to women’s wellness.
About the Partnership for Women’s Wellness
PWW was created to meet this moment by bringing patient advocacy organizations together across disease areas, geographies and health systems to advance prevention, screening, early detection and equitable access to care for women worldwide. By elevating patient voices, aligning shared priorities and translating evidence into policy-ready action, PWW aims to break down silos and drive solutions that reflect how women experience health and disease across the life span. As discussions at FOKUS Patient Future Days 2026 made clear, the need is urgent and PWW is committed to helping turn insight into impact and momentum into meaningful change for women everywhere.