The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a global health workforce crisis in a new report. This report indicates that nearly a quarter of doctors in 122 countries are nearing retirement, which could severely impact the quality of health and medical services.
Health Workforce Status Worldwide
According to this report, about 24% of doctors in various countries are over the age of 55 and will soon retire. This concerning situation is particularly serious in countries facing health workforce shortages. For example, in many developing countries, there are not enough doctors to meet the community's health needs.
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Challenges Ahead
The health sector in many countries is facing challenges such as workforce shortages, increasing demand for health services, and demographic changes. These challenges have become particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the aging population and the prevalence of chronic diseases, the need for doctors and nurses is on the rise.
The World Health Organization emphasizes the necessity of taking measures to attract and retain the health workforce in this report. These measures include improving working conditions, providing educational opportunities, and increasing salaries. Without these actions, various countries will face serious risks, and the quality of health services will significantly decline.
In this regard, different countries need to develop credible strategies to ensure the health workforce. These strategies should include attracting young people to medical and nursing professions as well as creating appropriate educational programs.
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