57 Countries With Critical Shortages Of Health Workers

In 2006, both The world health report and World Health Day focused on health workers. The creation by WHO and other partners of the Global Health Workforce Alliance and the adoption by the World Health Assembly of resolutions calling for a response to this crisis have paved the way towards better recognition for the vital role health workers play within health systems.


There are currently 57 countries with critical shortages of health workers which prevent them from delivering vital interventions such as vaccination of children, ante-natal and obstetric care and treatment of HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.


Today, the figures speak for themselves. There is a shortage of more than four million physicians, nurses, midwives, support staff and public health workers to meet the needs of these countries, 36 of which are in sub-Saharan Africa.


World Health Organization (WHO)