Africa Health Workforce Surges as Shortages, Migration Crisis Deepens
Oluwatobi Adu 
ABUJA, Nigeria – Africa’s health workforce is expanding rapidly, yet millions remain without care as unemployment and migration expose systemic gaps, a new World Health Organization report reveals.
The report, State of the Health Workforce in Africa 2026: Plan, Train, Retain, launched in Accra, shows the workforce grew to 5.72 million in 2024 from 4.3 million in 2018. Despite this rise, the continent still has only 46% of the personnel it needs, highlighting a widening disconnect between training and employment.
In 2024 alone, about 943,000 trained professionals remained jobless even as health systems faced critical understaffing. The report warns that without coordinated investment and reforms, the projected shortage—estimated at 5.85 million by 2030—will persist.
“Africa’s future depends on the strength of its human capital,” said John Dramani Mahama. “Investing in our health workforce is not just a health priority, it is an economic and development imperative.”
Ghana’s Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, added: “Training alone is not enough. We must create jobs, strengthen skills, and retain talent.”
The crisis is compounded by migration pressures, with nearly 46% of health workers considering relocation due to poor working conditions. Mohamed Yakub Janabi described the situation as a systemic failure rather than a simple shortage.
“We are training more health workers than ever before, yet too many remain unemployed while millions go without care,” he said.
The WHO warns that linking education, employment, and retention policies is essential to achieving universal health coverage, adding that sustained funding could unlock significant economic and social gains across Africa.
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Mirian Gom 