Movember must consider missing link in men's health protection

As men's health takes centre stage this November, data reveals why financial preparedness must become part of the wellness conversation

- Staff Reporter, Gulf Today

Every year, Movember, an annual month-long campaign held every November, sparks conversations about prostate cancer, mental wellbeing, and preventive care. Yet one part of men’s health remains strikingly under-discussed, which is the financial impact of serious illness.

Dubai's wellness culture and people-forward HR policies have matured rapidly, with fitness, nutrition, and early screening becoming mainstream habits. But this progress has also revealed a blind spot: while men are increasingly proactive about catching illness early, very few prepare for what happens after a diagnosis.

Financial advisors say this Movember offers an important opportunity to extend the conversation on men’s health from prevention to protection.

“Medical insurance pays the hospital, critical-illness insurance pays the household,” says Prashant Sharma, CFA, Vice President - Life, The Continental Group. “It bridges the gap between getting better and getting back to work by covering mortgages, school fees, and everyday costs that don't stop when income does.”

He adds that many men still hesitate to view themselves as vulnerable. “They see themselves as providers. But that’s exactly why protection matters. Their wellbeing sustains everyone else's stability.”