How many health workers are there and how many more are needed?
Q: How many health workers are there and how many more are needed?
A: WHO's World Health Report 2006 estimated that there are over 59 million health workers globally and that the world needs 4.3 million more to bridge the gap. This means 2.5 million doctors, nurses, midwives, and other health professionals, as well as 1.8 million management and support staff. But the crisis is not just about numbers - bridging the gap entails raising political commitment towards action on the issue, improving education and training, reforms in management and the tackling of issues of migration and retention of health workers issues of migration as well as increased financing.