Medical Council celebrates the contribution of women to medicine and patient advocacy on International Women’s Day

9,869 women doctors on the Medical Register in Ireland

***Key Facts***

• 9,869 women on the Medical Council register today
• 42% of women are on the Specialist Register
• A further 15.5% of women are on the Specialist Training Register
• 68.4% of women on the register received their medical education in Ireland
• 11.5% of women on the register received their medical education in another EU member State/EEA country
• 20.1% of women on the register received their medical education outside the EU

Friday, 8th March 2019: The President of the Medical Council, Dr Rita Doyle, has today marked International Women’s Day by acknowledging the important contribution of women in medicine and patient advocacy.

Speaking today, Dr Doyle said “As a young medical student in college I was inspired by the pioneering women in medicine of the past and today, as a GP for over 30 years, I am inspired by the women in medicine today.”

“Over the years we have seen growing numbers of women qualifying as doctors and entering into the medical profession. Increasing numbers of women doctors are furthering their training and qualifying as specialists, broadening the experiences and knowledge of the profession.”

“I recently spoke to 3rd year medical students and the enthusiasm and commitment I witnessed from the young women, and the young men, filled me with hope for the future of the medical profession.”

“Today more supports and flexibility exist to allow women the same opportunities to progress in medicine as men, but more can always be done. Significant progress has been made at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels to address the barriers of old.”

“It is not only in medicine that we see inspirational women, we have seen women taking on roles as powerful and strong patient advocates, often out of tragic or distressing incidents.”

“Women like Margaret Murphy, Loraine Walsh and Vicky Phelan continue to inspire us, speaking up and fighting for patient rights.”

“Like thousands of other women doctors around the country, I will be celebrating International Women’s Day by caring for my patients.” concluded Dr Doyle.

As of today, there are 23,301 doctors active on the register. While men outnumber women on the Medical Council register of medical practitioners, there are proportionately more women than men on the specialist division of the register, 42% of all women in comparison to 41.3% of all men on the register, reflecting a growing proportionate professional parity.

There are proportionately more Irish trained female doctors (68.4%) than Irish trained male doctors (50%) on the register, while there are 22% more women than men in Trainee Specialist division of the register. This indicates a bright future ahead for women and their representation in medicine in Ireland at the highest level.

ENDS

Note to editors:

• Dr Rita Doyle became the first woman President of the Medical Council in July 2018.
• The Medical Council Register is a live register which can very from time to time.
• The Medical Council has a dual role in protecting patients and supporting doctors.
• The Medical Council is the regulatory body for doctors. It has a statutory role in protecting the public by promoting the highest professional standards amongst doctors practising in the Republic of Ireland.
• The Council has a majority of non-medical members. The 25 member Council consists of 13 non-medical members and 12 medical members. The Council receives no State support and is funded primarily by doctors' registration fees.
• The Medical Council maintains the Register of Medical Practitioners - the Register of all doctors who are legally permitted to carry out medical work in Ireland.
• The Council also sets the standards for medical education and training in Ireland. It oversees lifelong and learning and skills development throughout doctors' professional careers through its professional competence requirements. It is charged with promoting good medical practice.
• The Medical Council is also where the public may make a complaint against a doctor. The Medical Council regulates only doctors. It does not deal with complaints against nurses, hospitals or dentists.