Ärztliche Versorgung: Gesundheitspersonal altert: WHO warnt vor Lücke

The rapid aging of the healthcare workforce is causing a looming shortage of medical professionals, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). As many as 11.1 million doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists and care workers could be needed by 2030, leaving a gap in global healthcare. Currently, there are about 70 million active health workers worldwide, a number that has grown from 44.8 per 10,000 people in 2001 to 67.9 today.

One-quarter of the global healthcare workforce is over 55 years old, with one in three working in high-income countries, according to WHO. The situation is expected to worsen in the next decade as the demand for healthcare services rises due to an aging population. This shortage of healthcare workers is expected to lead to longer waiting times for appointments and delays in treating acute problems, warns WHO.

The organization is particularly concerned about the recruitment of medical personnel from developing countries, including Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean region. In some African countries, there is only one doctor for every 26,000 people, while in high-income countries, the ratio is one doctor for every 150 people. In some cases, WHO suggests that recruiting health professionals from other countries could further exacerbate the problem.

WHO stresses the need for "ethical solutions" and cautions that international personal recruitment should not undermine the healthcare systems of countries already facing acute shortages. Lisa Smyth, a spokesperson for WHO's Academy in Lyon, emphasizes the importance of finding sustainable solutions to address this global healthcare crisis.