less than 30% of leadership positions are women

Carmen Gallardo, Pilar Garrido, Cristina Avendaño and Beatriz González López-Valcárcel.

The gender bias still present in the healthcare world. In fact, women occupy less than 30 percent of the posts leadership in Medicine both in health care and in participation in professional organizations and in academic positions and research. This is one of the conclusions drawn from the ‘Women in Medicine in Spain (Womeds)’ project, a pioneering study promoted by the Federation of Spanish Medical Scientific Associations (Facme) that has been presented this Tuesday.

Pilar Garrido, president of Facme, explained that this study stems from the idea that there was a gender bias. “But it’s not enough to think regarding it, we wanted to make a transversal work to see if there really was one gender gap in positions of responsibility”, assured Garrido, who added that it is a “live project” that he expects update the data on an annual basis. “We are very good to work but they won’t let us lead“, he stated.

This analysis has been carried out with the 2019-2021 data in which it is highlighted that the 26 percent of directors of department in the Faculties of Medicine are women; while if the number of decans is observed only reaches 27 percent. Carmen Gallardo, dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences of the Rey Juan Carlos University, has reflected on this, who has pointed out that as the status of professionals in the university decreases the figures are equal. That is to say, the difference that is seen between the professors is not appreciated in the same way in the associate professors.

“The situation of the universities it is worrying. Despite there being many women, leadership positions belong to men. You can also see who directs the doctoral theses, the 62 percent are them“, Gallardo has specified.

Underrepresentation of heads of Service

Refering to female presence in care activity Of the public centers, the majority of professionals are women (61 percent). However, they do not access high positions such as heads of Service and Section. Beatriz González López-Valcárcel, professor of Health Economics, has stated that of the 12 autonomous communities who have presented their data (representing 71 percent of the Spanish population) the percentages range from 20 percent of heads of Service in Andalusia and 47 percent in Navarra. “All the CCAAs have a underrepresentation as heads of service. In Section heads, which is less responsible, there is not so much difference “, she pointed out.

On the other hand, the scientific congresses they are also a reflection of this gender bias. Although they are always invited, their participation is scarce. “It’s a systematic pattern“, says González. Regarding scientific societies, only three had a female president during the period from 2019 to 2021, eight had both female and male presidents and the rest only men.

In this same line, the official medical colleges they are also a sample of mostly male institutional representation. Only 7 of the 51 schools had a female president during these three years of analysis, although there are more registered doctors what men. While in the medical academies, González has indicated that it is even more tangible: “In the boards of directors of 5 of 13 there are no women in these institutions”.

Space for female research

Finally, Christina Avendano, a member of Facme, has exposed the situation under investigation. The conclusions are that there fewer project requests led by women and that those granted to them are less funded.

“We have seen that they request the 67 percent of temporary contracts to integrate into research projects; but for leadership programs, calls for intensification of research activity, only the 30 percent of applicants They are women,” he said.

According to this document, in 2021, regarding 50 percent of the 4,377 members of the research groups integrated into the CIBER in Spain were women, but only 26 percent of the group leaders.

“Talent is being lost”

To reverse this situation, the promoters of the study have considered that it must be quantified, made visible and push policies that help to place the professionals in this position: “We cannot lose so much talent“.

Another aspect that is missing is the number of female references, so that young women can have examples of leadership. For this reason, they ask that they be given “a first chance” and that they apply positive discrimination quotas in the participation of congresses.

Although it may contain statements, data or notes from health institutions or professionals, the information contained in Redacción Médica is edited and prepared by journalists. We recommend to the reader that any health-related questions be consulted with a health professional.