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10 facts about the health workforce

1. The health workforces comprises practitioners, such as doctors, nurses and midwives, and trainers, educators, managers and support staff

2. Health workers save people’s lives.

3. All over the world, national health systems find it difficult to train, sustain and retain their health workers.

4. There is an ever increasing demand for health workers due to increases in the population age and in chronic diseases.

5. The global shortage of health workers is currently estimated at 4.25 million.

6. Fifty-seven countries in the world fall bellow the minimum threshold of 203 doctors, nurses and midwives per 1000 people.

7. The lowest concentration of health workers is in sub-Saharan Africa, where the greatest health needs are also found.

8. Ensuring safe and supportive working conditions, salary and management structures will contribute to solving the workforce crisis.

9. Educating and training health workers are priorities.

10. Maternal morbidity and mortality can be reduced by increasing the number of health workers.