South Asia Faces Major Health Worker Shortage to Reach Universal Healthcare, Study Finds
South Asia faces the largest shortage of healthcare professionals needed to achieve moderate universal health coverage, according to a global study published in The Lancet Public Health journal. Globally, an estimated 34.4 million additional doctors, nurses, midwives, dentists, and pharmacists are required to meet universal health coverage targets.
The research, conducted by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington in the United States, found that the regional deficit in South Asia includes 2.6 million doctors, 10.0 million nurses and midwives, 0.7 million dentists, and 0.3 million pharmacists.
In India, the health workforce density stands at approximately 73 workers per 10,000 people. This breakdown includes 10.5 doctors, 10.8 nurses, 8.1 pharmacists and pharmaceutical assistants, and 1.2 midwifery personnel per 10,000 population. In comparison, China was estimated to have around 130 health workers per 10,000 people, including more than 30 doctors and about 45 nurses per 10,000.
India ranked among countries with the highest density of community health workers globally, alongside Brazil, Thailand, and Rwanda, recording 16.2 community health workers per 10,000 population. High-income nations, by contrast, had fewer than one community health worker per 10,000 people.
The analysis noted that the global health workforce nearly tripled between 1990 and 2023, expanding from 40.9 million to 122.1 million personnel. Women contributed to more than 70 per cent of this expansion and represented roughly 70 per cent of all healthcare workers by 2023. However, female representation remained below half among doctors, with women predominantly working as nurses, midwives, and community health staff.
Lead author Megan Knight stated that while women have transformed the health sector over the past three decades, they remain concentrated in roles with lower pay and fewer leadership pathways. The authors emphasized that achieving universal health coverage requires expanding the workforce while establishing equitable opportunities for career progression and supportive working environments.
