According to the World Health Organization (WHO), women account for more than sixty per cent of the global health and social care workforce. It is estimated that women provide essential health services for around 5 billion people across the globe. Yet, at the executive level, women make up quite a low percentage of healthcare leadership positions. The percentage of female healthcare CEOs is pretty low. As Regina Temple says, even with the headway made in recent years, there is a deep disparity when it comes to leadership roles in healthcare.
Regina Temple sheds light on the state of women in leadership roles in healthcare
Women leaders have played a valuable role in the consistently evolving and advancing healthcare landscape. They have taken remarkable strides in advancing medical research, shaping healthcare policies and revolutionizing patient care. The unique perspective and experience of women leaders, as well as their unwavering dedication help in bringing about transformative change. It helps address important concerns and fosters inclusive, patient-centred approaches.
However, even with the great progress by women healthcare executives over the years, there is still a lot of work to be done. Women in leadership roles in healthcare still face a number of changes, like gender disparities, sexual harassment, and various other forms of both unconscious and conscious discrimination.
For generations, the healthcare industry has proven to be a haven for women to launch successful careers and continues to be a robust employment sector for female workers. As per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 16.4 million women were employed in the health care and social assistance industry in 2021 and represented 77.6 % of the total workers. However, even though healthcare has always been among the most prominent sectors for women, the number of women in leadership roles has lagged far behind that of men. As per a 2022 article published in Forbes, women make up only 25% of healthcare leadership positions. Women are generally underrepresented on leadership teams, which is likely to diminish their role in policy decisions that affect the population and women’s health.
Even though an increasing number of women are moving into leadership positions in hospitals and the healthcare industry, men still hold the bulk of the positions in the C-suite. Only about 15% -20% of all CEOs in health systems are women.
As Regina Temple says, based on their empathy, good communication, and a holistic approach to care, women bring a variety of unique contributions to healthcare. Over time, women leaders in healthcare have shaped practice and policy to improve the well-being of numerous patients, clinicians, and colleagues. These leaders especially have played a critical role in advocating for reproductive rights, advancing women’s health and ensuring access to quality healthcare for all. They have championed a number of initiatives that have been focused on addressing gender disparities in medical research, mentorship, and leadership positions, thereby paving the way for future generations. Women leaders have revolutionized healthcare systems by contributing diverse experiences and perspectives. They have promoted innovation, empathy, and inclusivity, all aimed at achieving improved health outcomes for everyone.