According to the World Health Organization, 55 countries are experiencing severe shortages of health workers as they continue to seek better-paying opportunities in wealthier, more developed countries.
According to WHO, African countries have been hit the hardest by the pandemic’s brain drain, with 37 countries on the continent facing health worker shortages.
“A shortage of health workers has jeopardized their chances of achieving universal health care by 2030,” according to a key Sustainable Development Goals pledge. “Africa has a very vibrant economy that is creating new opportunities,” said Dr Jim Campbell, WHO’s Director responsible for health worker policy, in a statement on Tuesday, March 14.
“The Gulf States have traditionally been reliant on international personnel and then some of the OECD high-income countries have really accelerated their recruitment and employment to respond to the pandemic and respond to the loss of lives, the infections, the absences of workers during the pandemic”.
“These countries require priority support for health workforce development and strengthening of health systems, as well as additional safeguards that limit active international recruitment,” the WHO stated.
In support of the SDGs’ call for universal healthcare for all countries, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus urged all countries to adhere to the provisions in the WHO health workforce support and safeguards list.
“Health workers are the backbone of any health system, but 55 countries with some of the world’s most fragile health systems don’t have enough, and many are losing their health workers to international migration,” he added.
