Empowering Change
This rising number of women leaders within the Arab health care sector reflects a broader social and economic development which raises awareness for the significance of women in the health sector. Ever more women take on leadership positions within the Arab world. Among these leadership roles, most women succeed.
More women than ever before have stepped forward to assume leadership roles in the Arab world, which is in need of a reputation for modernization and better health outcomes.
Current Landscape of Woman in Arab Healthcare
There have been tremendous improvements in the region over the years with regards to the percentage of women holding top positions in the healthcare sector. For example, there has been a prominent upsurge about the feminine populace both within leadership positions at Kuwaiti governmental hospitals.
Statistics show that, compared to 2008, the level of female leaders in Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital increased to 73% in 2016. It would therefore mean that women leaders in the healthcare sector are steadily increasing and gaining more popularity.
Similarly, in the UAE, women constitute a high proportion of the country’s health workforce, though very few women are in leadership and management; however, in recent years, there has been a steady improvement. The Emirati government has implemented policies aimed at increasing females’ involvement in healthcare leadership roles.
Challenges Faced by Woman Leaders
Even with these developments, problems still exist. Although many women are entering the healthcare industry in Saudi Arabia, experts point out that they still encounter obstacles when applying for leadership positions.
According to a session organized by the Atlantic Council, women continue to be underrepresented in leadership roles while dominating industries like healthcare and education. Women’s advancement is frequently impeded by societal norms regarding gender roles, which results in a recurring glass ceiling.
The need for supportive networks and mentorship programs is critical for fostering female talent and ensuring their representation at higher levels of management. Moreover, balancing work and personal responsibilities remains a hurdle for many of them.
Increased Representation in Leadership Roles
At Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital, for instance, the percentage of female leaders increased from 38% in 2008 to an impressive 73% by 2016. This change emphasizes the significance of supportive laws and societal changes that promote women’s involvement in healthcare administration, in addition to the increasing acceptance of women in leadership roles.
Not all specialties have seen an equal rise in female leadership; some have seen a more noticeable increase in female representation. Notably, between 2008 and 2016, the greatest proportion of female leaders occurred in disciplines like nuclear medicine, radiology, and laboratory medicine. According to this concept, women are not only joining the healthcare industry in greater numbers, but they are also succeeding and attaining leadership positions in fields that have historically been controlled by men.
Benefits to the Economy and Diversity in Gender
Organizations with gender-diverse leadership teams are innovative and financially outperform their counterparts. Such a connection underlines the need to promote women leaders not just in the name of equity but also as strategic business advantages for healthcare providers seeking to be competitive.
Gender diversity in leadership is strongly associated with better financial success, according to a number of studies. Diverse leadership teams increase an organization’s chances of outperforming its counterparts in terms of value creation and profitability. Companies in the top quartile for gender diversity on executive teams, for example, had a 21% higher chance of above-average profitability than those in the lowest quartile, according to a McKinsey analysis.
The Future of Women Healthcare in Leadership
Women’s leadership within the Arab health sector remains a significant step toward gender equality and empowerment. Despite the numerous challenges, changes within the health sector are seen with more women finding their place within higher positions. The Arab region should continue developing female healthcare leadership talent through supportive settings, efficient legislation, and mentorship.
For ladies in top positions in health care in the Arab nation, the future looks fairly bright. Further reforms oriented more towards women’s participation within broad sectors may lead to increasing acceptance of policies that support advancements among women in the workplace. For instance, initiatives tailored to offer monetary and otherwise incentives are being developed, aimed at encouraging women, for instance, to embrace entrepreneurship in the health sectors.
Another advantage of having diversified leadership teams is that businesses are now starting to understand the significance. Diverse leadership teams make a firm more innovative and effective in meeting the needs of the consumers. This recognition is very important because it encourages companies to treat diversity as a strategic asset rather than a goal.
