Pitchfest winner: Why the UK is falling behind on women’s health

Winning the Rewired Pitchfest 2026 competition has put women’s health in the spotlight, but Daye’s founder Valentina Milanova tells Digital Health Unplugged that the UK is still "falling behind" on care, research and investment. In the latest podcast episode, Tammy Lovell, editor at Digital Health News, speaks to Milanova about the urgent need to rethink women’s health and why progress has been slower than it should be. They explore the ongoing challenges, from stigma and funding gaps to delays in diagnosis and access to care, and what needs to change to better support patients. At the centre of the conversation is Daye’s flagship innovation: a diagnostic tampon designed for at-home HPV testing, which offers a new approach to cervical cancer screening aimed at improving accessibility for patients while easing pressure on NHS services. Milanova also reflects on the wider issues shaping women’s health - from the legacy of women being excluded from clinical trials until the 1990s to the reality that many women still wait years for a diagnosis. Listen to the full episode to hear why she believes the UK has the tools to tackle one of the most preventable cancers, but isn’t moving fast enough. Guest: Valentina Milanova, founder and chief executive of Daye