By Sizwe Dlamini
The Health Labour Market Analysis Report for Eswatini has unearthed interesting findings; stating that based on employment and training costs the country needs a total average investment of E 5,8 Billion (USD 379.3 million) to address population health needs by 2032.
The report notes that the minimum financial space required to employ a population-based health workforce is E4,5 Billion (USD 308.31 million).
The report, released by the Ministry of Health and supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) goes on to note that the average cost of training to address population-based healthcare needs is projected to be E225 Million (USD 15 million).
Addressing employment numbers, the kingdom needs about 20,272 healthcare workers, which comprise doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, allied health professionals such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, medical laboratory technologists, and healthcare assistants.
These targets typically refer to specific goals set by countries or international bodies aimed at achieving equitable access to essential health services for all individuals and communities, without suffering financial hardship due to out-of-pocket expenses for health care.
These targets are often aligned with broader health and development agendas such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The need for health workers was estimated using the burden of diseases, conditions and risk factors, population size, demographics, and service delivery standards.
Based on these, Eswatini needed at least 22,272 health workers in 2022 to meet the country’s population health needs and attain UHC.
This number was further estimated to increase by 14.3% by 2027 to 23,179 and then to 26,563 by 2032 or an overall increase of 19.3% in the need for health workers in 10 years due to evolution.
Additionally, in the disease burden and demographic change specifically, the country requires at least one general practitioner for 2 398 population and at least one specialist doctor per 2,398 in each medical specialty.
For professional nurses and midwives, one nurse per 520 of the population is required while at least one specialized nurse per 1,270 is required in each specialty area.
Also, one pharmacist per 2,929 population is required, and one Community Health Worker per 307 of the population.
As of 2022, there were only 10,359 health workers registered in Eswatini with 94% of them either working or looking for a job. Interestingly, the private sector can only absorb 21% of health workers, and 71% are employed in the public sector.