Sexual harassment in India's medical education: need for accountability
Sexual harassment in medical education is a global, structurally embedded problem driven by rigid hierarchical cultures, with trainees disproportionately exposed. Evidence from the US, Belgium, Finland, Brazil, Germany, and Switzerland shows consistent patterns — inappropriate comments, coercive advances, unwanted touching, and assault — especially against women and gender-minority students.
India mirrors these patterns, though primary data remains sparse and geographically limited. Reporting is strikingly low: across cross-sectional studies, disclosure by affected individuals ranges from 0% to 21%, despite substantial prevalence. Abusive conduct is too often rationalised as "rigor" or "tradition."
The Viewpoint argues that sexual harassment must be reframed as a public-health and workforce issue, not merely a disciplinary matter. It calls for trauma-informed supports, anti-retaliation protections, gender-sensitivity training, and psychologically safe learning environments.
It further argues that Internal Complaints Committees, as mandated under the POSH Act, are structurally compromised by a lack of institutional independence — and proposes a centralised, confidential national reporting portal, modelled on SHe-Box and the UGC anti-ragging portal, with enforceable accountability tied to NMC accreditation.