Gender Discrepancy in Emergency Medicine in Sri Lanka: An IMRaD-Structured Review.
H.A.D.M.P. Ariyasinghe
Keywords: Gender equity, Emergency Medicine, Sri Lanka, PGIM
Abstract
Background: Sri Lanka’s Emergency Medicine (EM) specialty has matured significantly over the past decade, yet gender inequity persists within training, consultant appointments, and leadership structures.
Objective: To analyse gender discrepancies in Emergency Departments (EDs) in Sri Lanka, including harassment patterns, structural barriers to leadership, and policy gaps.
Methods: A narrative review of available national health workforce reports, PGIM training data, Ministry of Health circulars, and published regional literature on gender in medicine.
Results: Women constitute over half of Sri Lankan medical graduates but represent less than 20% of EM consultants [2–4]. Local reports indicate that more than 60% of female doctors experience workplace harassment, while leadership opportunities remain disproportionately limited due to informal hierarchical structures, cultural biases, and insufficient institutional safeguards.
Conclusion: Systemic, social, and organisational factors continue to impede gender equity in Sri Lankan EM. Strengthening policy implementation, transparent leadership pathways, and data reporting mechanisms is essential to reducing gender-based barriers.