Health Workforce
Global situation: The World Health Report 2006 identified 57 countries facing a critical health workforce crisis. Each of these countries has fewer than 23 health workers (doctors, nurses, midwives) per 10 000 people – the minimum required to achieve an 80% coverage rate for deliveries by skilled birth attendants or for measles immunization. Sub-Saharan Africa faces the greatest challenges. It has 11% of the world's population and carries 25% of the global disease burden. Yet the region has only 3% of the global health workforce and accounts for less than 1% of health expenditures worldwide.
fact buffet
Shortage of physicians
420 000physicians, the estimated need
in Africa by 2015
pdf, 825kb
Internet access to staff
<50%of selected 26 HRH crisis countries
provide internet connection to all
staff at the HRH units
Issue No. 9, May 2012
National HRH plans
55%of the 57 countries facing health workforce crisis report implementation of the national plan
Human resources for health (HRH) observer, Issue No. 6, December 2010
