International Day of Women and Girls in Science: Building inclusive futures

What is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science?

The first International Day of Women and Girls in Science was formally recognised by the United Nations in 2015. This recognition followed the efforts of HRH Dr. Nisreen El-Hashermite, an accomplished scientist and activist. Dr El-Hashermite later launched initiatives to support girls entering STEM roles. 

The theme for IDWGIS 2026 is “Synergising AI, Social Science, STEM and Finance: Building Inclusive Futures for Women and Girls”. 

Are women equally represented in science fields?

Historically, women have been excluded from pursuing roles in most fields of science. Of course, there are many exceptions to this rule, and many women have made significant contributions to science - from Marie Curie’s pioneering work on radioactivity to Anne Szarewski’s influential work in identifying cervical cancer.

Yet, on average, only 35% of students in STEM-related fields are women, according to recent research by UNESCO. In addition, research by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) shows that women account for 29% of the UK’s STEM-related workforce.

So, why are women still underrepresented in STEM-related fields?

Well, studies show this can be for a variety of reasons. For example, in the IET survey, the most prevalent explanations provided by participants for this disparity were that girls are not encouraged to consider STEM careers in school (45%) and that women may be discouraged by how male-dominated the industries are (32%). 

There is still a long way to go and much work to be done to ensure women and girls are granted equal opportunities in STEM-related studies and careers. But it is also important to highlight the areas in which women continue to excel. 

One such field is medicine, and in particular, medical cannabis treatment.

Celebrating women in medicine

Throughout history, women have been vital in providing effective care for those in ill health, whether due to injury or illness. But women and girls have always faced significant barriers in pursuing medicine as a profession. 

It wasn’t until 1865 that Elizabeth Garrett Anderson became the first woman in Britain to qualify as a physician and surgeon. Even then, she was unable to find work in London’s hospitals until she opened her own practice, run by women, for women. She went on to co-found the London School of Medicine for Women, the first medical school in Britain to train women as doctors. 

In many countries around the world, barriers persist to this day, discouraging women and girls from entering the medical field. But thankfully, global initiatives are improving the representation of women in medicine - and in recent years, this seems to have had a significant impact in the UK.

How many female doctors are there in the UK?

The UK has long been considered a world leader in medical development, treatment, and innovation. The country is consistently ranked as a top destination for health research, from clinical trials to life sciences. And now, the UK is also among the countries with the highest proportions of female doctors.

As of 2025, women make up over half of the UK’s doctors\ for the very first time!

Since 2015, data collected by the General Medical Council (GMC) has shown a consistent increase in the proportion of women with a license to practise medicine. What’s more, since 2018/19, there have been more female than male medical students across the four countries in the UK, with women accounting for 60% of places. 

But these figures vary significantly across the different areas of medicine. According to the GMC’s data, the areas with the highest number of women doctors are obstetrics and gynaecology (63% female, 37% male) and paediatrics. But other specialities remain particularly male-dominated, particularly surgery (16.9% female, 83.1% male). 

Women in the medical cannabis industry

Since 1st November 2018, medical cannabis has been legally available on prescription in the UK. The rescheduling of cannabis in the Misuse of Drugs Act allowed for specialist doctors to prescribe medical cannabis for a wide range of conditions, when conventional treatments are ineffective or intolerable. 

This landmark legislation saw the UK join a host of other countries around the world with access to medical cannabis. But while cannabis-based medicines continue to become more widely accepted, the global cannabis industry has faced criticism for its lack of representation. Thankfully, recent data indicate that this could be changing.

According to the 2023 “Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the Cannabis Industry” report by MJBiz Daily, women held 39% of executive positions in the industry, up from 22% in 2021. 

Female physicians are more likely to support the use of medical cannabis

Global research also indicates that female practitioners are significantly more likely than their male counterparts to consider medical cannabis in the treatment of specific conditions. In particular, female respondents to a 2024 study stated they would support the application of medical cannabis for chronic pain, palliative care, and multiple sclerosis.

How is Releaf supporting women in medical cannabis?

At Releaf, we strive to build an inclusive medical cannabis clinic for our clinicians and patients alike. To this end, we will always aim to champion initiatives to close the Gender Gap in both our clinic operations and in the prescribing of cannabis-based treatments. 

Our world-class clinical team is led by our Medical Director, Dr Sue Clenton, an Oncologist & Specialist Consultant whose expertise spans treating various tumour types and managing both cancer-related and non-cancer-related symptoms.

In addition to Dr Clenton’s leadership, our clinical team includes many other highly experienced female doctors and nurses who play a vital role in patient care, prescribing decisions, and ongoing support. Their expertise spans a wide range of specialities, ensuring you are guided by a diverse and highly qualified team throughout your treatment journey.

If you are interested in the potential of medical cannabis, why not complete our online medical cannabis eligibility checker today? It’s fast, free, and can tell you in seconds whether you may be suitable for a consultation with one of our expert clinicians. 

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