Opinion: How can the world solve its shortage of health workers?

There is a global shortage of healthcare workers, and the demand for them is growing faster than the supply. The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts a shortfall of 10 million health workers by 2030, with 89% of the shortage concentrated in low- and middle-income countries. Many countries are struggling to meet the international minimum target set by WHO for the number of health workers needed per population.

One factor exacerbating this problem is that health workers are leaving their home countries to seek better opportunities elsewhere. For example, thousands of nurses have left Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Ghana in recent years. High-income countries like the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia also contribute to this issue by recruiting health care workers from vulnerable countries to address their own shortages.

In response to this crisis, WHO developed a “red list” of countries with severe shortages to discourage high-income countries from recruiting health care workers from those places. However, this list alone is not a solution. To address the issue in the long term, it is crucial to tackle the factors that drive health care workers away from their home countries, such as low salaries, unsafe working conditions, and a lack of social safety nets.

Community health workers, who play a significant role in the global health care workforce, are particularly affected. Many of them are not adequately paid and lack sufficient personal protective equipment. During the Covid-19 pandemic, an estimated 180,000 health care workers lost their lives, and many faced stigma, harassment, and violence. Failing to provide proper support and protections for health care workers not only raises ethical concerns but also carries significant economic costs.

To strengthen the health care workforce, countries should take immediate actions, including setting policies to build and maintain a healthy workforce, allocating resources to protect health workers, and being accountable for the outcomes. A recent report by the Frontline Health Workers Coalition highlights the economic benefits of investing in health care workers, with potential savings of up to $10 for every dollar spent on their support.

Every country must prioritize the protection of health care workers to ensure a safer world. This requires a comprehensive approach that includes policy changes, resource allocation, and accountability. Although commitments have been made to support health care workers, it is now crucial to take action in order to bridge the gap in the health care workforce.