Africa targets 3 million more health workers by 2035 – WHO explains what it could mean for patients

African leaders have pledged to train, employ, and retain three million more health workers by 2035, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This ambitious goal aims to address a significant gap between the number of health workers available and those needed across the continent. Prof James Avoka Asamani, Health Workforce Team Leader at the WHO, explained that the target was derived from an epidemiology-based needs analysis conducted in 2022, which initially estimated Africa required 6.1 million additional health workers.

The gap has since narrowed to 5.85 million. The reduction target, therefore, represents a half-cut in the workforce shortage over the next decade. For ordinary Africans, the impact of this target could be profound. Prof Asamani emphasized that cutting the distance traveled to access healthcare is a crucial benefit. With more health workers available, patients could receive care closer to their homes, reducing travel time and associated costs.

However, he noted that many Africans still lack access to qualified health workers, with Africa currently only having 46% of the needed workforce. The shortage also coincides with a troubling statistic: nearly one million trained health workers are unemployed. This discrepancy arises from a disconnect between training and job creation.

Prof Asamani stressed that governments must plan training alongside their ability to employ newly trained professionals. He suggested encouraging the private sector to hire trained health professionals. The WHO estimates that African countries would need a 35% increase in health workforce compensation budgets to attract and retain new workers.

Apart from financial incentives, the WHO proposes a "rural pipeline approach" to address the issue of health workers working in rural and underserved areas. This approach prioritizes training individuals from rural communities and exposes them to rural practice during their education, increasing their willingness to work in such areas.

Financial incentives like additional pay and career progression could further entice health workers to stay in rural communities. Prof Asamani emphasized that addressing factors beyond salaries, such as quality accommodation, water, roads, and schools, is crucial for retaining health workers in underserved areas. The estimated investment to significantly reduce the workforce gap is US$4 to US$6 per person annually for recruitment and salaries.

The potential economic return could be about 10 times the investment, while the broader social return could be 33 times the investment. Prof Asamani stressed that governments should lead funding efforts through improved domestic revenue mobilization and better allocation of existing health resources. Currently, Africa spends only about 7% of its national spending on health, compared to the 15% commitment by African heads of state in 2001.

Moreover, improving efficiency could lead to savings, with 1 out of every $5 spent on health going to waste in Africa.