[More women in the medical profession--a benefit?]

More than a hundred years have passed since the first woman graduated in medicine in Norway. Today, more than 30% of doctors and 20% of specialists are women. In some specialties there are still few women: in general surgery 5%, in otorhinolaryngology 9%; only in some 10% of the specialties are there a little above 30% female doctors. There are also few women in positions of leadership. A better balance between men and women would be a benefit to the medical profession, to the patients, to the working environment and in the shaping of the politics of healthcare. There is a change going on, but a slow one. At present, 50% of medical students are women. It is to be hoped that they will be able to make their career choices on the basis of their skills and preferences rather than their gender. Women doctors make a positive contribution to a male-dominated profession; indeed, they may contribute to a development and expansion of the doctor's role. This calls for changes in attitudes, good support and role models--and satisfactory working conditions. Project groups within the Norwegian Medical Association as well as its Equal Opportunity Committee will be working for this in the new millennium.