A recent report about the number of 'working' MBBS doctors was found to be much lower than the number of rgistered doctors. In case of nurses, it was found that 63% were not working currently. During my interactions with various doctors' organisations I find that a significant number of women doctors are not working actively in their professional capacities. This is a worldwide phenomenon, and the reasons are variable.
One of the reasons,in India, could be that the training is gender insensitive. While the doctors are experts in theory of disease and medicine, their training about the practice of medicine is completely hopeless. Take the very simple example of the type of dress a doctor wears to work-this has more more significant implications for female doctors than for male doctors. There is no discussion regarding personal safety during practice-a very significant concern for women doctors in most parts of India.
Women enterpreneurs receive different types of encourgement in terms of training in enterprise management, cheaper loans, etc. But women doctors (for that matter any women with professional qualifications) are barred from these schemes.
The lack of good quality, adequate and round-the-clock childcare facility is the most difficult and common problem that women healthcare professionals face. Each female doctor or nurse is left to her own means to 'figure it out' once she becomes a mother.
Our training does not take timely and realistic view of these challenges. No wonder most women quit. By the time their children grow up, they are out of touch and have lost the confidence to work.
To counter this problem, I feel the training program should have a module on gender issues in medicine. Government needs to adjust the rules to allow women to re-enter the profession. Maybe they can have a refresher course and re-entry exam? All hospitals should have large-capacity daycare centres for children upto 14 years of age.
One of the reasons,in India, could be that the training is gender insensitive. While the doctors are experts in theory of disease and medicine, their training about the practice of medicine is completely hopeless. Take the very simple example of the type of dress a doctor wears to work-this has more more significant implications for female doctors than for male doctors. There is no discussion regarding personal safety during practice-a very significant concern for women doctors in most parts of India.
Women enterpreneurs receive different types of encourgement in terms of training in enterprise management, cheaper loans, etc. But women doctors (for that matter any women with professional qualifications) are barred from these schemes.
The lack of good quality, adequate and round-the-clock childcare facility is the most difficult and common problem that women healthcare professionals face. Each female doctor or nurse is left to her own means to 'figure it out' once she becomes a mother.
Our training does not take timely and realistic view of these challenges. No wonder most women quit. By the time their children grow up, they are out of touch and have lost the confidence to work.
To counter this problem, I feel the training program should have a module on gender issues in medicine. Government needs to adjust the rules to allow women to re-enter the profession. Maybe they can have a refresher course and re-entry exam? All hospitals should have large-capacity daycare centres for children upto 14 years of age.
