‘Women must prioritise health’

Having been in the field of medicine for close to 40 years, Dr Nithya Ramamurthy, Senior Consultant Gynaecologist and Obstetrician, Fortis Malar Hospital, is among the few women who have assumed a leadership role in the field of healthcare. She took over Malar Hospitals soon after her husband’s demise and continues to be on its Board.

She has performed over 10,000 laparoscopic surgeries besides conducting a number of ongoing medical education programmes for young medical students and practitioners.

She has held a joint workshop with the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists, focussing on vaginal pelvic surgery. She is also the recipient of the ‘Best Doctor’ award from the Tamil Nadu government in 2012. 

Having straddled the roles of specialist and head of a corporate hospital, she says that the challenges are inherent when one wants to do both jobs well – and when 

it is a woman at the top. “It can be turned in one’s own favour, even though it has not been easy,” she says. “My mother has been my role model and it rubbed off on me to do my bit to inspire others,” she adds. 

Healthcare has few women in leadership roles. But this is changing now. “We have Dr Preetha Reddy of Apollo, who has shown the way for many women. It is a difficult job, true, but women know exactly what they need to do,” she adds.

She is concerned, for example, about the fact that women tend to neglect their own health. 

“Women always put their health concerns on the back-burner. As a woman, I have been able to reach out to them through special packages for Women’s Day and help them avail of the benefits of screening for cancer through liquid-based cytology and mammograms. It is also my responsibility as a doctor to take such benefits to the lower income groups as well,” she points out, adding that corporate hospitals are no longer catering only to the rich and upper middle class. 

“Treatment options are packaged so that everyone can avail of these benefits,” adding that empathy in one’s approach to the patient can go a long way.

As a gynaecologist, she is also worried about rising infertility. “Women are marrying late as they want to focus on their careers first. There is nothing wrong in being career-minded, but they have to strike a balance – and think about whether sacrificing a relationship is worth it. I also observe that many couples go through a strained relationship due to work-home pressure and are hesitant to consult a counsellor. If these counsellors or psychologists can provide solutions, then why not go to them?” she asks pragmatically.

Pointing to the ‘self-sacrificing’ nature of women in our society, she says, “Only when they start prioritising their own health, will anything change. They are a pivotal part of the family and their health impacts everyone else’s.”