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Adopted during the 76th session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa, the Health Workforce Management Programme in Africa (2026\u20132035)<\/em> aims to transform health-sector labour markets.<\/p>\n The ministers\u00a0approved a 10-year programme to train, employ and retain three million additional health workers in a major push to bolster health systems across the continent.<\/p>\n \u201cOur Member States have recognised that training health professionals is only the beginning,\u201d said Dr. Mohamed Yakub Janabi, WHO regional director for Africa.<\/p>\n \u201cThis programme turns evidence into concrete action and political commitment into sustainable investments for Africa\u2019s health workforce and, ultimately, for the health and well-being of our populations,\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The commitment comes as Africa\u2019s health workforce has grown significantly over the past decade<\/strong>, reaching nearly 5.72 million professionals in 2024.<\/p>\n Yet, the increase remains far short of what is needed. The continent currently has only about 46 per cent of the health workers required to meet its needs, leaving millions of people without adequate access to essential health services.<\/p>\n Without decisive action, the shortfall could exceed six million professionals by 2035.<\/p>\n At the same time, Africa faces a striking paradox: health facilities are struggling with staff shortages\u00a0<\/strong>while nearly one million trained health professionals are unemployed, with recent graduates particularly affected.<\/p>\n In many countries, more than half of newly qualified nurses, doctors and midwives are unable to find work shortly after completing their training.<\/p>\n For WHO, the situation underscores the need to better align education and training with labour-market demand<\/strong>, job creation and sustainable financing, while strengthening long-term workforce planning.<\/p>\n The new programme provides countries with a roadmap to improve workforce planning, expand quality training, create more employment opportunities and retain skilled professionals in the areas where they are most needed.<\/p>\n WHO also highlights the economic case for investing in health workers<\/strong>. Closing Africa\u2019s workforce gap would require an additional $4 to $6 per person each year.<\/p>\n The potential returns, however, are substantial. Every dollar invested in health workers could generate up to $10 in economic benefits and roughly 30 times that amount in broader social returns, through better health, higher productivity and stronger economies.<\/p>\nMore health workers, but still not enough<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Chronic staff shortages<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Small investment, potentially big returns<\/strong><\/h2>\n
New regional strategy<\/strong><\/h2>\n