4 OCTOBER2021For years, healthcare has been viewed as a field apt for women. The old Indian stereotype went like, `boys become engineers and women become doctors'. Although reductive in nature, this stereotype has led to healthcare becoming a sector that has a much higher representation of women. Be it nursing, pharma, dentistry, medicine or other allied fields, women have always formed a large chunk in educational institutions and industry alike. A 2019 report by Lean In and McKinsey stated that as compared to other sectors, women in healthcare are better represented at all levels, are promoted at similar rates to men, and report similar career satisfaction. While the report was specific to North America, yet a somewhat similar story unfolds closer at home. Speaking from anecdotal experience, men form only one third of the population in a typical medical college in India and the rest are all women. More women are graduating from medical institutions that men. However, the same ratio cannot be seen in the industry. The percentage of women employed in the entry levels is high, yet the number dwindles as we move towards the top leadership positions. A study by WHO concluded that while in totality women form 70 percent of the entire workforce in the healthcare sector yet their representation leadership roles is about 25 percent. The importance of gender diversity in a field like healthcare can hardly be overstated. This become even more important since women form a majority of the patients who visit emergency departments. What is it then that stops women from rising up the ranks in the healthcare sector? According to the Lean In and McKinsey `lack of ambition' is certainly not one of the reasons. It all boils down to factors such as hiring and advancement practices which form structural challenges. There are also a plethora of institutional barriers that allow underlying biases to exist. In totality these factors combine to foster a work environment that is not conducive to inclusive and supportive experience for all employees. Despite these challenges, we can see various women of substance making their mark in the healthcare industry. Be it Teacher Shailaja, the ex-health minister for Kerala who successfully led the state in its fight against Covid-19 or Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, who has been leading Biocon to greater success, there are examples aplenty. But only time will tell how many more such women leaders will rise in the ranks in the healthcare industry. Also, the nation is forever indebted to the nursing staff and front line workers who have been toiling through the pandemic. The contribution made by each of these women is commendable.Do let us know your thoughts.Editor NoteWhere are the Women in Leadership roles in the Healthcare Sector?editor@womenentrepreneurindia.comRachita SharmaSpecial Editor
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