The Economic and Health Benefits of Women Leaders in Healthcare

Wed 5th Feb, 2025

Recent research published in the open access journal BMJ Global Health highlights the significant contributions of women in leadership roles within the healthcare sector, asserting that their presence is beneficial for a nation's economic prosperity, health outcomes, innovation, and ethical standards.

Despite their substantial representation, comprising 70% of the healthcare workforce and 90% of nursing and midwifery roles, women hold only 25% of leadership positions. This discrepancy underscores the underutilization of women leaders, particularly in low and middle-income countries. The study advocates for increased and sustained investments to harness the potential of women leaders and fully realize their contributions.

The researchers conducted a scoping review of existing peer-reviewed literature to assess the impact of women's leadership on healthcare organizations, with a particular focus on low and middle-income countries. A total of 137 articles were reviewed, analyzing the effects of women in leadership roles across various healthcare settings.

The analysis revealed that the majority of studies indicated a positive correlation between women's leadership and a range of beneficial outcomes. Specifically, 97% of the studies reported statistically significant positive impacts, while a smaller fraction reported negative or null results. The review identified six key areas where women leaders made a positive difference: financial performance, risk management, innovation, ethical engagement, health outcomes, and organizational culture.

Even in studies with mixed outcomes, the evidence largely pointed to favorable results, particularly when women leaders had access to better education, experience, and collaborative opportunities within their organizations. The reasons behind this positive influence remain somewhat unclear, particularly in light of the biases and challenges women often face in leadership roles.

One potential explanation for the favorable outcomes associated with women's leadership is their inclination towards transformational leadership behaviors, which often include democratic and participative management styles. The research suggests that these attributes may enhance team cohesion, communication, and overall organizational climate.

The researchers emphasize that the effectiveness of women leaders cannot be viewed in isolation from the environments in which they operate. Unfavorable conditions can inhibit their ability to effect change. Therefore, the study calls for a concerted effort to create supportive organizational cultures that empower women leaders, enabling them to make independent decisions and drive positive outcomes.

In a related editorial, Dr. Jocalyn Clark from The BMJ argues that the prevailing male dominance in global health leadership contradicts the scientific evidence supporting the benefits of women leaders. She emphasizes the urgency of advocating for gender equality in leadership roles, especially in the current climate of diminishing rights and equity initiatives.

Dr. Clark notes that while change requires collective responsibility, increasing the number of women in leadership positions could catalyze transformative changes within biased systems.

Overall, the findings of this review advocate for a strategic focus on promoting women's leadership in healthcare, which could yield substantial benefits for organizations and the communities they serve.


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