Facing a projected shortage of more than six million health professionals by 2035, African countries have approved a new decade-long plan to strengthen their health workforce. The Health Workforce Management Programme in Africa (2026–2035) was adopted during the 76th session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.

The programme aims to transform health-sector labour markets by training, employing, and retaining three million additional health workers across the continent. This initiative marks a shift from merely increasing the number of trained professionals to building sustainable, well-planned, and equitably distributed health systems capable of meeting Africa’s rapidly growing health demands.

“Our Member States have recognised that training health professionals is only the beginning,” said Dr. [name not specified]. The commitment comes as Africa’s health workforce has grown significantly over the past decade, reaching nearly 5.72 million professionals in 2024. However, in many countries, more than half of newly qualified nurses, doctors, and midwives are unable to find work shortly after completing their training.

Closing Africa’s workforce gap would require an additional $4 to $6 per person each year. Deliberations on policies and priorities are ongoing at the Addis Ababa meeting through August 28, with decisions expected to shape the region’s health agenda in the coming year and beyond. The ministers also endorsed a new regional strategy aimed at giving every child the best possible start in life.

Sources