Deconstruction of Women’s Leadership and Representation in Health Governance: An Indian Experience

Even after more than 25 years of the Beijing Declaration, men outpacing women in leadership and representation across all sectors worldwide is a common phenomenon, and the health sector is no exception, as per a policy action paper published by the World Health Organization in 2021. The paper states that around 70% of women are involved in the global health workforce but only 25% of them hold any senior or decision-making positions. A similar trend could also be observed in India, where many women are involved in the healthcare sector. However, most are placed at the lower levels with underpaid jobs. The presence of women in leadership roles in the health sector in India is a rare phenomenon. This chapter analyzes women's leadership and representation gap in health governance. It also documents the barriers and biases women encounter in global health, which opens up the scope for re-evaluating the significance of gender equality and gender equity. Despite numerous policies and programmes to ensure women’s role in leadership, they have been excluded from decision-making and female ideas, expertise, and innovations are often neglected. Equal representation and participation of women and men in policymaking are not ensured. This chapter draws an inference that low numbers of women in health governance would cripple the system as those who know the most about the system get the least opportunity to say or provide their insight. Finally, this chapter argues that gender responsiveness and gender equity are two major ways through which women can be assured of leadership, representation, and positive health outcomes. It would also be in harmony with the sustainable development goals of gender equality and good health, emphasizing that no one should be left behind.