Female physicians in Japan face many difficulties in maintaining their careers.. According to a report, nearly 70% of female physicians prematurely cease to work, with the main contributing factors to this labor shortage being childbirth and child-rearing. In light of this, we sponsored a symposium to consider strategies to help maintain female physicians in the workforce. Four panelists discussed the essential points to consider when introducing preventive measures against female physicians leaving their jobs, what those in and around the workplace could do, and the nature of support required from administration and academic societies. It was felt that academic societies and administrations must implement and support work systems which allow for various ways of working in the medical field. Academic society committees will play an important role in assessing the needs of female physicians in order to promote the establishment and support of such work systems.
-Report of a symposium held as part of the 4th Academy meeting of the Japan Primary Care Association, 18th May, 2013 at Sendai International Center.