African nations adopt ten-year plan to train and employ three million healthcare professionals
African health ministers, meeting at the 76th session of the World Health Organization WHO Regional Committee for Africa, approved a ten-year program on August 26, 2026, to train, employ, and retain three million additional healthcare workers across the continent. This initiative addresses a projected deficit of over six million health professionals by 2035, which threatens access to care for millions. Currently, Africa has only about 46% of the healthcare staff needed to meet its population's needs. Despite significant growth to nearly 5.72 million health professionals in 2024, a structural deficit persists. The new program, the African Health Workforce Management Program 2026-2035, aims to improve workforce planning, enhance training quality, create more jobs, and retain professionals in underserved areas. The WHO notes a paradox where nearly one million trained professionals are unemployed, highlighting a mismatch between training capacities, healthcare system needs, and available funding for employment. Dr. Mohamed Yakub Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa, emphasized that training is just the beginning. The WHO also views strengthening the health workforce as an economic investment, estimating that every dollar invested could generate up to ten dollars in economic benefits and 30 times the investment in social returns.
