Women play a significant role in Qatar’s healthcare sector, which stands as the country’s largest employer of women. According to a report by the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), an initiative of the Qatar Foundation, women constitute 61% of the total registered healthcare workforce in Qatar.
Key Statistics:
- Total Healthcare Workforce:
- The country has 52,979 registered healthcare professionals.
- Women form 61% of this workforce.
- Nursing Dominated by Women:
- 76% of nurses in Qatar are women, demonstrating their substantial presence in this field.
- Gender Gap Among Doctors:
- Men dominate the doctor workforce, with women making up only 37% of the total doctors.
- Other Allied Health Sectors:
- Women outnumber men in pharmaceuticals and other allied health professions.
Role of Expatriate Workers:
- Expatriates in Healthcare:
- 95% of Qatar’s total workforce in healthcare consists of expatriates.
- Among the 300,000 expatriate domestic workers, the majority are women.
Representation of Qatari Citizens:
- Qatari Women vs. Men:
- Qatari women are more represented than Qatari men in the healthcare sector.
- Underrepresentation of Qataris:
- Despite this, Qatari citizens remain underrepresented compared to the non-Qatari workforce.
Implications of the Report:
The data underscores the critical role women play in Qatar’s healthcare sector, especially in nursing and allied health fields. However, the gender gap among doctors highlights areas for improvement in achieving gender parity. The overwhelming reliance on expatriate workers points to the need for strategies to bolster the participation of Qatari citizens in the sector.
This report not only highlights achievements but also serves as a call to address gender and nationality disparities to further strengthen Qatar’s healthcare system.