Margaret Ida Balfour

Margaret was a Scottish medical doctor and campaigner for women’s health, who made a significant contribution to the development of medicine in India. Born in Edinburgh in 1866, her brother caught scarlet fever, which infected her father who died from the disease aged 51. It is thought that this family tragedy drove Margaret to pursue a career in medicine. Her determination proved successful, especially at a time when very few women were allowed or were able to study medicine. 

 

Margaret joined the Edinburgh School of Medicine for women, under Sophia Jex-Blake but graduated in Brussels and Paris, as Edinburgh did not award medical degrees to women at that time. 

 

In 1892 Balfour went to India to take charge of the Women’s Hospital in Ludhiana. Women in labour could not be treated by male doctors or nurses, which made the role of female doctors and maternity care providers, both from India and overseas, all the more vital.

 

Margaret produced many influential publications on midwifery, infant mortality and maternal mortality. She helped to train Indian women as health visitors and improve access to maternal healthcare across India. She was elected President of the Association of Medical Women in India, awarded a CBE and became a Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

 

Margaret, aged 80, also served as an Air Raid Precautions Medical Officer, right up until her death in 1945.