The worldwide nursing population grew from 27.9 million in 2018 to 29.8 million in 2023; however, inequalities remain evident, as stated in the State of the World’s Nursing 2025 report published jointly by WHO, ICN, and collaborators.
Even though the worldwide nursing shortfall has declined from 6.2 million in 2020 to 5.8 million in 2023, this improvement hides significant disparities between regions. Notably, 78% of nurses are located in countries that account for only 49% of the world’s inhabitants.
Similar problems arise in Uganda, especially in rural regions, where the ratio of nurses to patients remains low.
In Uganda, the scarcity of nursing staff continues to be a crucial problem, particularly in distant regions such as Karamoja and Buvuma.
A significant number of qualified nurses encounter joblessness because government-run hospitals lack the financial resources to hire all new graduates.
“This report brings positive news, and we extend our congratulations to the nations advancing,” stated WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Nevertheless, we must acknowledge the disparities present within the worldwide nursing sector.
The report underscores an increasing dependence on nurses from abroad, indicating that 23% of nurses working in high-income nations come from other countries.
Nurses from Uganda similarly move to nations offering higher salaries, thereby worsening the scarcity of healthcare professionals locally.
Pam Cipriano, President of the International Council of Nurses, stated, ‘We appreciate the SoWN 2025 report as a significant checkpoint for tracking advancements in bolstering and backing the nursing workforce to achieve worldwide health objectives.’
The State of the World’s Nursing 2025 report underscores that gender and equality continue to be critical issues. Women comprise 85% of the worldwide nursing sector, often encountering obstacles such as reduced compensation and restricted prospects for advancement into leadership roles.
In Uganda, these gender discrepancies are notably pronounced, with female nurses frequently receiving lower salaries compared to males in other healthcare fields.
In Uganda, addressing the mental well-being of nurses is crucial, especially after the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic. Only 42% of responding countries offer mental health support for nurses, which remains a pressing issue.
“As emphasized by Cipriano, achieving Universal Health Coverage relies heavily on acknowledging the worth of nurses and leveraging their strength and impact to serve as agents of beneficial transformation within our healthcare systems,” she stated.
The report looks forward to outlining key policy objectives from 2026 to 2030, encouraging nations to upgrade work environments, increase positions within the nursing sector, and boost chances for professional advancement.
The evidence serves as motivation for aligning with the WHO Global Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery 2021-2025, which focuses on speeding up progress regarding the healthcare workforce by the year 2030.
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