UK registers more Women doctors than Men for first time

English , International - بین الاقوامی , Snippets , / Thursday, March 6th, 2025

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For the first time in history, the UK has more female doctors than male doctors, according to figures from the General Medical Council (GMC). Women now make up 50.04% of the doctor register, with 164,440 women compared to 164,195 men.
This milestone is largely attributed to the growing number of women enrolling in medical schools across the UK. Since the 2018/19 academic year, female medical students have outnumbered their male counterparts in all four nations of the UK.
The gender shift in the medical field marks a significant change, as women were virtually absent from the medical register when it was first established in 1859. It wasn’t until the early 20th century that their numbers began to rise, with a noticeable increase in the 1970s.
Notably, women now represent the majority of doctors in Scotland and Northern Ireland, while men still outnumber women in England and Wales. Female doctors are especially prominent in specialties like obstetrics, gynecology, and pediatrics, while fields like surgery, ophthalmology, and emergency medicine have fewer female practitioners.
The GMC reports that women also make up 57.7% of the GP workforce. Professor Dame Carrie MacEwen, chair of the GMC, welcomed the shift, highlighting the benefits of increased diversity for patient care. However, she emphasized that challenges remain, particularly in ensuring that female doctors have access to leadership roles and opportunities for career progression.
Despite progress, discrimination persists, with 9% of female doctors reporting unwelcome sexual advances, compared to 4% of men. Both Dr. Latifa Patel of the British Medical Association and Professor Scarlett McNally of the Medical Women’s Federation celebrated this historic change.