World Medical Association President Dr. Jacqueline Kitulu Urges Greater Women Leadership at Cyprus Health Conference

Dr. Jacqueline Kitulu, the first Kenyan and first woman to lead the World Medical Association, addressed a conference organized by the Cyprus Turkish Medical Association in the Turkish‑controlled part of Cyprus. She noted that women comprise roughly 75 % of the global health workforce but hold only about 25 % of senior managerial positions, and she called for policies that increase female representation in health leadership.

Kitulu also warned that artificial intelligence, while useful for diagnostics, cannot fully understand a patient’s story or provide empathetic, face‑to‑face care. She emphasized the role of medical associations in safeguarding standards, shaping medical education, and influencing health‑related legislation. Her broader goal is to promote inter‑regional collaboration to raise the quality, ethics, and education of health services worldwide.