The world’s healthcare system is under a serious threat due to acute nursing shortages. The crisis is so severe in fact, that ICN estimates there will be a global shortfall of 13 million nurses by 2030. That is of course, if no action is taken to remedy the situation.
COVID-19 has exacerbated this situation further, causing many nurses to suffer from:
- Burnout,
- Exhaustion,
- Mistreatment and
- Even, Death
It is not hard to see why reports of Nursing Unions strikes and exodus of nurses from the workforce have become frequent. To have a closer look at this global health emergency, let’s understand its deeper impact at the global level.
Impact of Nursing Shortages Around the World
As a country becomes more developed, the average age of the population starts rising. This is because when a society gets better access to quality education and healthcare, birth rates start falling. So, less people are born and a decline in the working-age population is seen. Whereas a rise in the older, more dependent population is observed.
It is a well known fact of life that as a person ages, they become more susceptible to health complications. This leads to a rise in demand for healthcare. However, due to a shrinking working age population that demand is not adequately fulfilled.
Thus, it is not a surprise that developed economies like the USA and UK are struggling from the nursing shortage crisis a lot.
According to official statistics, as of September 2022:
- Around 133,000 vacancies in the UK’s NHS
- A vacancy rate of 9.7%
A pre-pandemic study from the US Department of Health and Human Services projected the registered nurse supply to be at a deficit of 100k after 2020. Lower-income and developing economies face a different sort of challenge. They are in danger of losing their domestic nursing workforce to international markets.
International markets provide:
- Higher pay
- Better working conditions and
- Wider social safety nets.
Thus, it is easy to see why nurses from developing countries are tempted to leave their domestic markets in favour of working abroad.
International Nurses Day: Our Nurses. Our Future.
As part of the International Nursing Day celebrations every year, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) publishes groundbreaking findings that address the current challenges faced by the healthcare industry and how to tackle them.
The report, Recover to Rebuild, cites more than 100 studies which show 40% to 80% of nurses reporting having experienced symptoms of psychological distress, nurses’ intention to leave rates having risen to 20% or more and annual hospital turnover rates increasing to 10% and even more.
To address the global nursing shortage and retain the existing workforce, ICN recommends four policy focus areas:
- Education
- Jobs
- Leadership
- Service Delivery
These are based on the Global Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery, which is a set of policy priorities that can help countries ensure an adequate supply of nurses.
Jobizo: A Made-in-India Solution for a Global Problem
So, how to forge ahead on the path of overcoming this crisis?
In December 2021, the country’s healthcare situation was grim. People had faced two deadly waves of the Coronavirus. In the capital, people died due to oxygen shortage. Doctors and nurses were exhausted, hospitals were short-staffed, beds were scarce, mortuaries and cremation grounds were full; people cremated their loved ones in electric furnaces.
But Avishek Aggarwal, a healthcare leader, saw a better future. He saw the need for a solution to address the medical professionals gap.
And so, Jobizo was born.
Jobizo faced initial skepticism, but the team persisted. They persuaded people of the platform’s benefits and filled the healthcare gap. It has also won the Startup of the Year award in the Economic Times Human Capital Awards gaining industry recognition for its potential to solve global healthcare challenges.
Jobizo’s model is simple. For healthcare employers, the web app finds the right healthcare worker based on their profile and location. Whereas, medical employees can search and apply for jobs through the mobile app. The app shows opportunities based on their location and expertise. They can schedule interviews and get paid through the app: App Store/Play Store