Male nurses face stigma but earn 24% more than women: Study
New Delhi: Nursing continues to be viewed as a “female profession,” leading to occupational segregation and stigma for male nurses. However, despite their underrepresentation in the field, male nurses tend to earn more than their female counterparts, according to a new study published in the BMJ and cited by The New Indian Express.
The study reveals a 24% gender pay gap in nursing, with men consistently earning more than women on average, despite women forming the majority of the global nursing workforce.
While the demand for nurses is expected to grow, driven by ageing populations and a rise in chronic illnesses, the study stresses that addressing the gender imbalance is vital. “Empowering nurses is not just about tackling workforce shortages, it is also about unleashing the full potential of a profession that is central to realising universal health coverage for all,” the study noted.
“In India, male nurses are concentrated more in certain specialities, such as emergency departments and ICUs, with limited access or discouragement in other areas, including obstetrics and paediatrics, due to patient comfort and gender appropriateness,” TNIE quoted Dr Preeti Kumar, lead author of the study and Vice President, Health Systems, at the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), as saying.
India is projected to have 2.74 million nurses and midwives by 2030, but only 1.4 million are expected to be actively working within the health system. The current nurse-to-population ratio stands at 1:670, significantly below the WHO’s recommended ratio of 1:300.
To improve male participation in nursing, the study recommends initiatives such as public awareness campaigns, gender-balanced recruitment, educational quotas, and financial support for male students.
India has taken steps to expand its nursing capacity, approving 157 new nursing colleges and producing about 15,700 nursing graduates annually.
Quoting the 2025 report on the state of the world’s nursing from the WHO and the International Council of Nurses (ICN), the study warns that most low- and middle-income countries are unlikely to meet their healthcare workforce goals by 2030. One major challenge is the migration of nursing professionals to wealthier nations. Around 13% of nurses globally work in countries other than those where they were trained or born.
The study concludes that as digital innovation continues to reshape healthcare, it is crucial that such advancements complement human-centred care.
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Lebanon PM accuses Israel of ‘war crime’ after rescue workers killed in strikes
Beirut: Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Tuesday accused Israel of committing a “war crime” after five people, including three civil defence personnel, were killed in twin air strikes in southern Lebanon.
According to Lebanon’s Ministry of Health, the strikes targeted a building in the town of Majdal Zoun, where rescue workers had arrived following an initial attack. A second strike hit the same location, killing those involved in relief operations.
Salam said targeting emergency responders carrying out humanitarian duties amounted to a serious violation of international humanitarian law. He added that the government would raise the matter at international forums and seek action to halt such incidents.
A spokesperson for the Lebanese Civil Defence was quoted by AL Jazeera that the rescuers were trapped under debris after the second strike and later confirmed dead.
The Lebanese army said two of its personnel were also injured in the attack, which reportedly struck a military patrol escorting the rescue team along with civilian equipment.
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun also condemned the incident, stating that it was part of a pattern of attacks affecting relief workers and civilians.
Despite a US-mediated ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, cross-border hostilities have continued, with frequent air strikes reported in southern and eastern parts of the country.
Lebanese authorities said at least eight people were killed in separate incidents on Tuesday, while the overall toll from Israeli strikes since early March has crossed 2,500, with thousands injured.
