Shanghai, People’s Republic of China, 16 June
2026
Research examining fertility costs,
preventive healthcare access and workplace inequalities has
received top recognition under the 2026 APEC Healthy Women,
Healthy Economies Research Prize, highlighting the growing
importance of health policy in supporting women’s economic
participation across the Asia-Pacific.
Professor Zhu
Zhaofang, Head of the Strategic Planning Division at the
National Center for Maternal and Child Health under
China’s National Health Commission, and her team received
the top prize for research examining the growing financial
pressures associated with childbearing and maternal
healthcare.
Drawing on data from China, the study
explores how maternity insurance systems can better support
women and families by reducing out-of-pocket healthcare
costs and strengthening maternity protection policies amid
broader demographic and workforce
challenges.
“Childbearing is both a personal and
social choice. Women’s decision to have children should
never be constrained by economic pressures or personal
development and career aspirations,” said Professor
Zhu.
“This research demonstrates that with the right
policy design, comprehensive maternity security is both
achievable and fiscally sustainable. I hope these findings
contribute to building economies where women are supported,
as workers, as caregivers and as the foundation of healthy,
thriving societies.”
The prize, presented annually
by the APEC Policy Partnership on Women and the Economy,
recognizes outstanding research that advances women’s
economic participation by improving health
outcomes.
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Two additional studies were recognized as
runners-up.
Dr Woo Yin Ling and her team from the
University of Malaya and the ROSE Foundation in Malaysia
were recognized for research exploring how antenatal care
visits could help expand access to cervical cancer screening
and preventive healthcare services.
Dr Sunjin Pak and
colleagues from California State University Bakersfield in
the United States were also recognized for research
examining how long working hours and unpaid caregiving
responsibilities can affect health outcomes and contribute
to gender wage disparities.
“The experience of the
APEC Healthy Women, Healthy Economies Research Prize
highlights the important role of research in advancing
women’s health and economic participation across APEC
economies,” Zhang Jianmin, Interim Chair of the APEC
Policy Partnership on Women and the
Economy.
“Congratulations to this year’s prize
recipients, and we look forward to more research outputs
that support knowledge sharing and more inclusive growth
across the region because when we invest in women’s health,
we invest in the future of our economies,” Zhang
added.
The APEC Healthy Women, Healthy Economies
Research Prize is sponsored by Merck and supports APEC’s
ongoing efforts to promote inclusive growth through
public-private partnerships.
“Merck is honored to
support the APEC Healthy Women, Healthy Economies Research
Prize for the eighth consecutive year. The research
recognized in 2026 highlights important evidence on
women’s health, economic participation and access to care
across the APEC region,” said Andre Musto, Managing
Director and General Manager of Merck Healthcare
China.
“We are pleased to continue supporting this
platform, which helps elevate research, encourage dialogue,
and contribute to shared learning among APEC
economies.”
The Healthy
Women, Healthy Economies (HWHE) initiative is grounded
in the APEC HWHE Policy Toolkit, which highlights five areas
for action: workplace health and safety; health awareness
and access; sexual and reproductive health; gender-based
violence; and work-life balance. The initiative supports
policymakers, industry and civil society to advance
women’s health as a foundation for broader economic
empowerment.
