Women’s health remains one of the most underfunded areas of global healthcare, despite its far‑reaching impact on societies worldwide. The visit of the Executive Director of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) to Turku on 26 February 2026 highlights Finland’s growing profile as a country whose women’s health innovators and university research increasingly attract international interest.
Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Diene Keita visited Turku on Thursday 26 February. During her visit, she met the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, Ville Tavio, and explored Finnish health technology and pharmaceutical expertise through the Women’s Health Hub Finland network. Executive Director Keita and Minister Tavio visited Bayer’s production site in Turku and familiarised themselves with the operations of the life science and diagnostics company Revvity.
The visit highlighted Finland’s role as a developer of solutions and innovations that advance women’s health.
– Finland is developing health technology that supports women and families around the world. Turku is a significant life sciences hub, and as Minister I have worked to advance our pharmaceutical exports: work that is also reflected in UNFPA’s purchases from Turku, Minister Tavio notes.
The timing of the UNFPA Executive Director’s visit coincided with the run‑up to International Women’s Day, a period when women’s health and gender equality are in the global spotlight. Research and innovation focusing on women’s health remain significantly underfunded: globally, only around one per cent of health research and innovation targets women‑specific diseases outside oncology.
– As we approach International Women’s Day, it is important to remember that investing in women’s health is both a question of equality and a significant opportunity for growth and societal impact, says Minna Arve, CEO of Business Turku.
Finnish companies contributing to global health challenges
Women’s Health Hub Finland, a network promoting equity in health, works closely with UNFPA, creating new export and innovation opportunities for Finnish companies. Coordinated by Business Turku, the network brings together companies, researchers and public‑sector actors to develop innovations that promote women’s health.
Women’s Health Hub Finland is seeking partnership with UNFPA’s WomenX Collective, one of the world’s most ambitious initiatives for funding and scaling women’s health innovations. WomenX Collective is building a global network of hubs that connect national ecosystems with international funding, research and innovation. Finland is well‑positioned to be part of this network. Minister Tavio also highlighted WomenX Collective in his discussions with UNFPA Executive Director Diene Keita.
– Our cooperation with UNFPA opens concrete pathways for companies into international networks and funding. Our aim now is to bring Finnish RDI expertise, clinical connections and the startup ecosystem into WomenX’s global pipeline work and ensure that women’s health innovations are developed and scaled from Finland as well, Arve says.
For example, Bayer has been supplier of contraceptives to UNFPA for more than 50 years and also collaborates extensively to raise awareness about family planning.
– Our production site in Turku is at the core of Bayer’s global sustainability goal to enable access to modern contraception for 100 million women in low‑ and middle‑income countries by 2030. I am extremely proud of Finland’s pioneering role in women’s health, says Tomi Penttilä, Managing Director of Bayer Finland.
Finland becomes the first-ever country to join UNFPA’s coalition
During the meeting between Executive Director Keita and Minister Tavio, it was also agreed that Finland will join the Coalition for Reproductive Justice in Business (CRJB) as the first public‑sector actor. CRJB promotes responsible business practices and encourages companies to strengthen sexual and reproductive health and rights in workplaces, supply chains and societal advocacy.
– UNFPA is delighted to welcome Finland as the first-ever government to become a member of the Coalition for Reproductive Justice in Business. With its low gender employment gap, Finland is showcasing the many benefits of investing in the health of female employees, setting a powerful example that I hope inspires further action to bring greater equality in the workplace, says Executive Director Diene Keita.