The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of a growing global health workforce gap as many doctors approach retirement age. According to its latest report, nearly one in four doctors is aged over 55 and could retire within the next decade, based on data from 122 countries.
Shortage Could Reach 11.1 Million
The WHO estimates that the global shortage of health and care workers could reach 11.1 million by 2030. Moreover, 67 countries may not have enough health workers to meet their populations’ healthcare needs by then.
The situation is particularly significant in high-income countries, where nearly one in three doctors is over 55.
Unequal Distribution Remains a Challenge
Meanwhile, healthcare workers remain unevenly distributed across regions. The WHO report found that the density of doctors in the European Region is 13 times higher than in the African Region.
As per WHO, an ageing health workforce, combined with an ageing global population, could put additional pressure on healthcare systems. Therefore, countries need to strengthen workforce planning, education, recruitment and retention to meet future healthcare demands.