A conference to identify attainable pathways and goals to strengthen the representation of women in leadership positions in India and Global health ecosystem was held recently.
The conference titled, “Women Leading Change in Health and Science in India” was held in New Delhi.
Dr. Bharti Pravin Pawar, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Melinda French Gates, Co-chair and Trustee Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Amie Batson, Executive Director, WomenLift Health addressed the conference.
The conference stressed the importance of women’s leadership in health and science. It looked to identify pathways and goals to strengthen the representation of women in leadership positions in India and Global health ecosystem, said a release from PIB.
This conference honoured and celebrated Indian women’s accomplishments in overcoming unprecedented challenges over the past few years. It also aimed to advancing STEM innovation and healthcare with their indefatigable resilience and unwavering perseverance.
Dr Rajesh S. Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology& Chairperson, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), said that women’s leadership throughout centuries were transformative. “I congratulate all women, and I believe that this is the time we need to empower more women in leadership positions so that India becomes the superpower that our Prime Minister dreams of.”
The global healthcare workforce constitutes more of women. However, they remain underrepresented in leadership and decision-making positions, visibly in the higher executive or board levels. Under-representation in STEM is also one of the major concerns. In India, even though the healthcare workforce participation is somewhat similar between men and women, there are fewer women in leadership roles.
Recognizing the importance of this issue, BIRAC has been working to advance scientific and technological research to alleviate India’s most critical health and development issues.
The esteemed panel of speakers at this conference comprised Dr Soumya Swaminathan, former Chief Scientist World Health Organization, Dr Renu Swarup, former Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr Vinod Kumar Paul, Member, NITI Aayog, among other prominent names working in health and science.
