Trans-Affirmative Medical Education in India: Need for Reform and Core Competencies

Transgender people experience discrimination and mistreatment in healthcare institutions. Some transgender people choose not to seek medical attention out of fear of mistreatment and the high cost of care. For instance, 51 per cent of the 3,619 respondents to the Kerela Transgender Survey 2014–15 reported having experienced discrimination in healthcare institutions. 

Learners need to be aware of the care standards and laws that are in place at the national and state levels to safeguard transgender and non-binary people. The report adds that minority SOGIESC (sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics) groups should be encouraged to take part in research that will support the development of laws and policies protecting them.

According to the report, transforming healthcare to be trans-affirmative would require a “generational unlearning of institutional transphobia” and a reshaping of doctor-patient relationships by centering care over implicit prejudices and stereotypes.

It has been noted that in addition to the prevalent disrespect and discrimination in heathcare institutions, going to a health center puts privacy at danger. This limits the well-being of individuals who belong to sexual and gender minority groups.

In addition to healthcare and education systems, the media must change how it covers issues concerning transgenders and present information in a “trans affirming manner”.

Focus and Factoids by Ashish Singh.

PARI Library’s health archive project is part of an initiative supported by the Azim Premji University to develop a free-access repository of health-related reports relevant to rural India.