While women make up 70% of the global healthcare workforce, they hold only 25% of leadership roles in healthtech companies (The Guardian).  

This disparity highlights a systemic issue– an underrepresentation of women’s voices in leadership, which has tangible consequences for innovation, patient outcomes, and technological development. 

But this isn’t a new phenomenon. Across industries in the UK and worldwide, women’s contributions are undervalued.  

However, in healthcare, this lack of representation is particularly concerning, as it transcends workplace inequality and directly affects lives. 

Women bring a unique perspective to the healthcare industry; it’s the diversity of these perceptions and experiences that allows women to draw different conclusions to their peers, and lead healthcare towards the latest innovations.  

Women Leading Change 

Fortunately, the tide is turning. Across the globe, women are making waves in healthcare, disrupting norms, and driving change on both national and localised scales.  

Dr. Indra Joshi, for example, served as the Director of AI at NHSX from 2019 to 2022. During her tenure, she led the creation of the NHS AI Lab, an initiative focused on leveraging artificial intelligence to improve patient care. Dr. Joshi was a staunch advocate for the ethical use of AI, emphasising the principles of transparency, inclusivity, and patient-centered care, which aligned with her personal beliefs of bringing meaningful inclusivity of people from diverse backgrounds into senior leadership.  

Her initiative provided funding to 38 other projects aimed at improving patient outcomes through AI-driven solutions. Her work not only showcased the potential of AI in healthcare, but also highlighted the critical importance of having diverse voices at the table.  

On a more localised scale, initiatives like the Maternal Enhanced and Critical Care (MEaCC) initiative are making significant strides in maternal and neonatal health. Supported by Athera Healthcare, MEaCC serves a region that accounts for 10% of England’s births. The initiaitve has been a game-changer; becoming the first model in the country to gain acceptance across all maternity units in a region and is now being considered for national adoption. 

Led by a team of dedicated women, the initiative has captured data from 5,000 women across Yorkshire and the Humber, offering critical insights into improving maternal healthcare outcomes for those in critical care. This effort exemplifies how women’s leadership can drive meaningful change, directly impacting lives and setting new standards for care for those groups who are most in need.  

While high-profile initiatives like those led by Dr. Joshi and the MEaCC team are inspiring, it’s important to recognise that paving the way for women doesn’t always require monumental efforts.  

Impact is felt at every steppingstone 

From mentorship programs and community outreach to policy advocacy and everyday acts of inclusion. Each contribution, no matter how small, helps create a healthcare industry that values and amplifies women’s voices, particularly in leadership roles. 

Celebrating Women in Healthcare 

This International Women’s Day, we honor the women who have dedicated their lives to ensuring positive patient outcomes.  

We encourage them to speak up, be heard, and work to uplift each other’s voices in an industry that truly benefits from their impact.  

Together we go further.