In conversation with Dr Mary-Ann Etiebet: Health Equity through Her Lens

As part of our ongoing "Health Equity through her Lens" campaign, we spoke with Dr Mary-Ann Etiebet, a recognised leader in global health and health equity. With experience spanning both public and private sectors, Dr Etiebet has championed transformative approaches to improving access to healthcare for women and girls around the world.

In this conversation, she shares insights on why investing in women’s health is not just the right thing to do but also a smart, strategic imperative for the healthcare industry. From harnessing the power of AI to strengthening data systems and cross-sector collaboration, she lays out a vision for how we can collectively close the health gap for women and girls.

You’ve spent much of your career advancing women’s health through both public and private sector roles. What do you see as the strongest arguments today for the pharmaceutical industry and partners to invest meaningfully in women’s health? How can we see this as also an opportunity for growth?

It continues to confound me that we have to make the argument. Women make up half of the world’s population and potential market size for health care solutions, there is significant unmet need and they are often the Chief Medical Officer of their family. All of these factors point to a significant return on investment.

Women’s health isn’t a niche issue - it’s central to the future of healthcare. When we recognise that, we stop seeing it as a tradeoff and start seeing it for what it is: a powerful driver of innovation and growth.

In fact, a recent McKinsey report found that closing the women’s health gap could not only add years to life - it could also boost the global economy by $1 trillion a year by 2040. That’s not just meaningful impact - it’s smart strategy. Investing in women’s health delivers better outcomes, opens up new markets and creates lasting value. It’s a win on every level.

Looking ahead, what do you believe will define the next decade of action on women and girls' health, particularly when it comes to industry partnerships and government leadership?

AI is already changing the game - and when applied thoughtfully, it can be a powerful force for good in women and girls' health. One example we’re proud of is our work through Vital Strategies’ Data to Stop Gender-Based Violence.

We developed a linguistic analysis tool that scans electronic medical records for patterns that might indicate violence - even if violence wasn’t disclosed during the visit. In Recife, Brazil, we teamed up with government, tech and AI experts to analyse over 3.6 million records across health, law enforcement and social service sectors. Using AI, we uncovered previously hidden cases of gender-based violence - and even more notably, we were able to identify signs of aggravated violence up to 90 days before it occurred.

That’s the kind of potential we’re looking at. AI can help create early warning systems for health professionals, giving them a chance to intervene before situations escalate. And this is exactly where public-private partnerships shine - combining industry expertise with government leadership to build smarter, faster systems that save lives. If we lean into that kind of that kind of collaboration, the next decade could deliver truly transformative progress for women and girls.

Your current work focuses on strengthening data systems to improve health outcomes across populations in an inclusive way, and the Foundation uses data and evidence to influence healthcare companies to do more for access to medicine. How can data help incentivise better outcomes for women and girls, and what role do you see for data to be more useful to drive public-private partnerships in improving access?

Data is the heartbeat of any strong health system. Without it, we’re flying blind. And when it comes to women and girls, the gaps in data aren’t just frustrating - they’re holding us back from real progress.

Take something as fundamental as legal identity. Right now, a staggering number of women in low-income countries - up to 35% - can’t prove who they are. That’s unacceptable. Without a birth certificate, you’re locked out of essential services like healthcare, education and legal protections. It’s one of the most basic building blocks of equity, and yet, it’s still out of reach for millions of people.

But we’ve seen what’s possible. Look at Rwanda: they boosted birth registration from 56% in 2016 to 90% in 2024. That one change opened the door to better healthcare access, financial inclusion and long-term empowerment for women. That’s the power of data in action.

To really move the needle, we need comprehensive and inclusive data that captures the realities women face and we need public-private partnerships that use data to drive smarter decisions, inform targeted investments and enable transparent tracking to strengthen accountability. That means funding the research, identifying and closing the gaps and making sure that every data point leads to something actionable. Because when data reflects women’s real experiences, it can guide investments that improve lives. That’s where the impact happens.

Dr Etiebet’s insights serve as a powerful reminder that achieving health equity for women and girls demands bold, data-driven partnerships between industry, government and civil society. Her call to action is clear: we must recognise the value of women, not only as patients, but as drivers of health innovation and impact.

As we continue this campaign, we invite you to join the conversation, share these perspectives and help turn commitments into concrete progress for women everywhere.

#HealthEquity #ThroughHerLens

About Dr Mary-Ann Etiebet

Dr Mary-Ann Etiebet is a recognised leader in global health and health equity. Currently, she serves as the President and CEO of Vital Strategies where she leads a team of over 400 individuals working in 80+ countries to ensure that everyone, everywhere, is protected by equitable and effective public health systems. Today, more than 3.3 billion people worldwide are covered by public health policies that Vital Strategies helped achieve.

Previously, Dr Etiebet directed Merck for Mothers, a $650 million global health initiative, that expanded access to quality maternal healthcare for more than 50 million women across 70 countries. Later, as Merck’s Associate Vice President for Health Equity, she led the development of the company’s health equity strategy and advanced partnerships to improve healthcare access for underserved communities.

Dr Etiebet’s career began in academia and public health in infectious disease, including her work with HIV/AIDS programs in Nigeria, impacting over 70,000 people. A Yale-trained M.D. and MBA, she actively serves on the boards of Save the Children, the Center for Global Development, in addition to her advisory roles with major global health organisations.