Salon
If Women Ruled the Health World
Female Leaders for the Development of Sustainable, Resilient Health Systems
Salon: If Women Ruled the Health World
October 16, 2023
World Health Summit, Berlin
Globally, women make up 70 percent of the health workforce, but they are significantly underrepresented in leadership positions. On the African continent, women form the backbone of the healthcare system. However, their work is often badly- or unpaid. With only 28 percent, the African continent represents the region with the lowest proportion of female physicians in the world. Empowering women in this context is key. The benefits of addressing these inequalities extend beyond the women and their talent, skills and knowledge, but have major impact on health and economy of a nation.
Discussion Points
Cross-Sectional Collaboration
There needs to be more collaboration with those from outside the academic health world. The private sector should implement the measures on the ground. In doing so, it is important to move from informal to formal spaces.
Equal Leadership
The data already shows that we need more women leading positions in health care. The African continent is not lacking female experts. Therefore, we need to stop studying the why, but to start figuring out the how.
Localization Approach
In line with principles of female development policy, funding should be led directly to initiatives lead by women. Following the localization approach, this would benefit women leadership works and women’s rights organizations in the health sector.
Allyship
Men in leading roles need to create space for women. This means that they should not step out, but instead become a part of the community. Thinking about how to sponsor the next woman is a political choice. This shift needs global convention and policies instead of solutions on the national level.
One-on-one exchange at the Salon "If Women Ruled the Health World"
Prof. Dr. Dr. Ilona Kickbusch and Dr. Eleanor Nwadinobi at our dinner dialogue at World Health Summit 2023
Speakers
Contact Persons
Sabrina Rupprecht, s.rupprecht@globalperspectives.org
Salon
Continuous dialogue creates awareness for the urgent questions of our time. In salons, renowned experts open the discussion with our selected guests from business, politics and society.
Related Program
AI could revolutionize healthcare in Africa. At the World Health Summit, we discussed AI's potential to improve healthcare equity and access.
Investments in women's health are threatened by budget cuts and anti-gender movements. In our webinar, we discussed innovative strategies to drive progress in our digital dialogue.
The inequalities in the global health system have a significant impact on the financial situation of women. We discussed economic growth through equal opportunities.
With Mamta Murthi and Dr. Eliya Zulu (AFIDEP), we highlight challenges that exist for health, social and economic equality.
We discuss family planning, sexual and reproductive health (SRH) with Ulle Schauws and Dr. Eliya Zulu. SRH is the focus of feminist foreign policy.
The combination of technology and health is developing rapidly on the African continent and exceeds global standards.
In times of crisis, women and girls are particularly affected, and access to safe and affordable sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is crucial.
The Covid-19 pandemic has in many ways exacerbated pre-existing inequalities. At the World Health Summit, we discussed this with H.E. Prof Awa Marie Coll Seck and Dr Eckhart von Hirschhausen.
In the second edition of our series "United against Covid" we discussed the conflict of interest in vaccine distribution, challenges for the international community and current solutions.
We discussed smart solutions from the private sector and international organizations for a fair global distribution of safe and affordable vaccines.
Program Archive
How can Germany build strong, sustainable relationships with countries in the Global South that benefit both sides? At HSC 2025, we continued the dialogue on the Commission's recommendations.
At the eighth edition of The Africa Roundtable, we discussed how to rethink and strengthen sustainable finance in Africa through strategic partnerships with Europe.
The Commission “A Changing World – Germany and the Global South” presents its recommendations as a basis for addressing key strategic decisions facing Germany today.
How can Germany's international cooperation become more sustainable? After a year of intensive work, the Commission presented its final report recommendations for discussion.
DPI can help bring large populations online, driving economic growth. We highlighted the range of benefits of this new concept at our follow-up to the seventh edition of The Africa Roundtable.
The Commission "A Changing World - Germany and the Global South", chaired by Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, presents its first impulses ahead of the German federal elections in 2025.
With data emerging as the key driver of future economic power, Africa's digital transformation is critical and urgent. The action recommendations of the seventh conference.
The seventh edition of the Africa Roundtable focused on the importance of digital infrastructure and data sovereignty for the digital revolution on the African continent.
Our discussion at Raw Materials Congress focused on fostering smart and sustainable European-African partnerships in raw materials to meet demand, boost African growth, and support energy transitions.