World is projected to face shortage of 11 million health workers by 2030: WHO Report

NEW DELHI June 5: India is facing a growing nursing workforce crisis, reflecting a global trend that threatens the future of healthcare delivery. According to a new report by the World Health Organization (WHO), the world is projected to face a shortage of 11 million health workers by 2030 — a rise from earlier estimates — with nurses accounting for a significant share.

Although nearly 70% of this shortfall will impact Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean, India is also under severe strain. Despite expansions in healthcare coverage, the country’s nursing workforce remains undertrained, overburdened, and increasingly overstretched.

The WHO’s State of the World’s Nursing 2025 report reveals deep inequities in the global distribution of nurses. While the global total reached 29.8 million in 2023, developed nations — home to only 17% of the world’s population — employ nearly half of all nurses. In contrast, populous low- and middle-income countries like India suffer from critically low nurse-to-patient ratios.

Globally, the average stands at 37 nurses per 10,000 people. In India, the current ratio is just 1:670 — well below the WHO’s recommended 1:300 — with elder care particularly hard hit. As India’s population aged 60 and above nears 150 million, projected to double by 2030, the shortfall in geriatric nursing support is becoming more acute.

“We are stretched thin,” says Hoilenchong Sitlhou, senior nurse and geriatric care expert at Antara Care Homes. “In senior care especially, where patients often need personalised support and emotional connection, poor nurse staffing compromises both health outcomes and human dignity.”

The WHO report underscores this concern, noting that while 80% of nurses worldwide are now formally trained, many low-income countries lack the infrastructure, faculty, and standardised curricula required for advanced nursing competencies — especially in critical areas like dementia, palliative care, and chronic disease management.

India’s growing number of Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) programs have created vocational entry points, but these often fall short of equipping professionals for specialised care. “Most CNAs don’t receive sufficient hands-on training in geriatric or dementia care,” Sitlhou notes. “Without clear growth pathways or support for upskilling, many stagnate or leave the field altogether.”

Though the Indian Nursing Council has proposed curriculum reforms, especially targeting geriatric specialisations, progress has been uneven. Training remains concentrated in urban areas, further marginalising rural patients and young professionals. “Rural areas lose on both ends — patients lack care, and trained nurses migrate to cities or abroad,” she adds.

Migration remains a pressing concern. India is among the top exporters of trained nurses, with over 60,000 working abroad. Drawn by higher pay, better working conditions, and professional growth, many leave a system that offers neither adequate support nor recognition.

The WHO report is unequivocal: retaining nurses requires competitive salaries, safe working environments, and a culture of professional respect.

“At Antara, a single nurse might be responsible for five or six seniors with complex needs. That’s not sustainable,” Sitlhou says. “The workload and emotional toll are enormous.”

Antara Care Homes adjusts nurse-to-patient ratios based on clinical need, ranging from 1:1 to 1:5. The organisation has also implemented in-house geriatric training accredited by the Healthcare Sector Skill Council and partnered with Dementia India Alliance to roll out specialised care protocols. Yet, such models remain the exception rather than the norm.

To build a resilient nursing workforce, India needs a nationwide investment in education, upskilling, and workforce planning. This includes increasing nursing college intake, improving rural access to training, and creating targeted programs for ageing-related care.

Although India’s Nurses Registration and Tracking System — linked to Aadhaar — provides real-time workforce data, experts argue it must be used more effectively to forecast regional shortages and guide policy responses.

As the WHO notes, the global nursing workforce may rise to 36 million by 2030. But unless systemic imbalances are addressed, inequalities in access and care will persist.

At every level — from ICUs to primary health centres to home-based dementia care — nurses are the backbone of healthcare delivery. Their retention is not just a staffing issue; it is a public health necessity.