In this article, we will look at the 18 countries that need doctors in 2023. We have also discussed the global physician shortages. If you want to skip our detailed analysis, head straight to the 5 Countries That Need Doctors in 2023.
The shortage of physicians worldwide is a critical issue with profound implications for global healthcare systems. According to the World Health Organization, there is a global deficit of 4.3 million physicians, nurses, and health professionals. This shortage is particularly acute in developing countries, where limited medical education capacity exacerbates the problem. The consequences of this shortage are far-reaching, impacting the quality of healthcare, increasing workload for practitioners, and leading to overworked and stressed healthcare professionals.
Patients face lower-quality care, constrained doctor-patient interactions, prolonged wait times, and increased consultation costs. As reported by Washington Post, projections indicate that by 2025, the demand for physicians will outstrip the supply by 46,000 to 90,000 in the United States alone, indicating a looming crisis that requires urgent attention and systemic reforms. However, despite these challenges, USA is the best-paying country for doctors. To read more about doctor salaries by country in 2023, read our article about the highest-paying countries for doctors.
Teladoc Health Inc (NYSE:TDOC) is taking major steps to address the healthcare workforce crisis, particularly the shortage of doctors in the United States. By collaborating with Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT), Teladoc Health Inc (NYSE:TDOC) aims to integrate Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service, Azure Cognitive Services, and the Nuance Dragon Ambient eXperience (DAX) into its Teladoc Health Inc (NYSE:TDOC) Solo platform. The idea is to automate clinical documentation during virtual exams, thereby reducing the administrative burden on healthcare professionals.
As the US Department of Health and Human Services predicts a countrywide shortage of 90,000 physicians by 2025, Teladoc Health Inc (NYSE:TDOC)’s initiative is crucial in enhancing efficiency and improving the quality of medical information sharing. The partnership also addresses the challenges posed by electronic paperwork, with physicians currently spending two hours on administrative tasks for every hour of care provided. Teladoc Health Inc (NYSE:TDOC) aim to capitalize on AI to strengthen the doctor-patient relationship and alleviate workforce burden. These initiatives become even more pertinent as the healthcare industry sutrggles with increasing demand and the need for streamlined processes.
Moreover, Teladoc Health Inc (NYSE:TDOC) plays an equally important role in addressing the persistent staffing challenges hospitals face, particularly in nursing. With the ongoing shortages and burnout among nurses, Teladoc Health Inc (NYSE:TDOC) enables health systems to implement virtual nursing units, capitalizing on its technology that utilizes televisions for communication. These virtual units handle non-bedside care responsibilities such as admission, discharge, and documentation, freeing up bedside nurses to focus on hands-on patient care.
This innovative approach has proven successful, with hospitals like Saint Luke's Health System in Kansas City experiencing improved patient satisfaction, reduced administrative burden, and enhanced stress relief for bedside nurses. The virtual nursing units also contribute to staff retention, providing an attractive option for experienced nurses who may find it challenging to spend extended hours on the floor. To read more about nurses and their struggles, see countries that need nurses the most.
On the other hand, HCA Healthcare Inc (NYSE:HCA) is actively addressing the anticipated physician shortages in the United States. The company has recently welcomed 2,006 new residents and fellows to its Graduate Medical Education (GME) program in 2023. Recognizing the potential shortage of physicians estimated by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), HCA Healthcare Inc (NYSE:HCA) has strategically invested in GME programs for the past nine years. With programs spanning 46 different specialties and subspecialties, the organization provides diverse and comprehensive training opportunities, addressing both primary and specialty care needs. To read more about medical specialties, see the highest-paid medical specialties in the world.
Speaking of HCA Healthcare Inc (NYSE:HCA), HCA Houston Healthcare has inaugurated a 24-hour emergency room, ER 24/7 Fort Bend Parkway, in Houston, in collaboration with its Pearland hospital. This 10,000-square-foot facility has 11 exam rooms, an on-site lab, and diagnostic imaging services that will provide comprehensive emergency care for adults and children. Staffed by board-certified emergency medicine physicians, the ER addresses several medical conditions with direct access to HCA Healthcare Inc (NYSE:HCA)’s Houston Healthcare Pearland or one of their 12 additional hospitals. The expansion aims to meet the community's growing healthcare needs, providing high-level emergency care closer to residents' homes.
It is worth mentioning that in 2023, Belgium, Denmark, and France are countries with a high demand for doctors in Europe. On the other hand, Canada is one of the best countries for doctors to immigrate to.
18 Countries That Need Doctors in 2023
A doctor with a patient in a white lab coat discussing treatments for neuromuscular diseases.
Methodology
To list the countries that need doctors in 2023, we targeted countries with shortages of doctors. We have relied on data of physicians per 1000 people for those countries. We acquired the data from Our World in Data from the database of 2019. The list is presented in ascending order.
Here is a list of countries that need doctors in 2023.
18. South Africa
Physicians per 1000: 0.79
South Africa faces a critical shortage of doctors, with less than one doctor per 1,000 patients, according to information revealed by the Minister for Health, Dr Joe Phaahla. In 2023, the doctor-to-patient ratio has decreased to 0.31 doctors per 1,000 patients, a major decline from 2019 when it was 0.79. The situation is exacerbated by over 21,000 vacant specialist medical personnel posts across all provinces, leading to challenges in delivering healthcare.
17. Timor Leste
Physicians per 1000: 0.77
With growing shortages, the World Health Organization (WHO) has also highlighted the alarming infant mortality rate, ranging from 70 to 95 deaths per 1,000 live births, and mentioned that the under-five mortality rate is "unacceptably high." Communicable diseases, particularly respiratory infections, diarrhea, malaria, and tuberculosis, contribute majorly to the mortality burden.
16. Egypt
Physicians per 1000: 0.75
Egypt is experiencing a severe shortage of doctors, with over 11,500 leaving the public health sector between 2019 and 2022, primarily seeking better opportunities abroad. The departure of medical professionals is driven by inadequate salaries and poor working conditions in government hospitals. Egypt's doctor-to-population ratio, at 7.5 for every 10,000 people, falls well below the World Health Organization's recommended minimum of 10.
15. Myanmar
Physicians per 1000: 0.74
Myanmar is facing a severe shortage of doctors as the military junta fired 557 government-employed doctors for participating in the nationwide Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), a protest against the military government's coup. The junta, already grappling with a lack of medical professionals due to the movement, suspended the licenses of the dismissed doctors, exacerbating the healthcare crisis.
14. Bangladesh
Physicians per 1000: 0.64
Bangladesh has a grave shortage of doctors, putting the country's ranking second lowest in the doctor-patient ratio among South Asian countries, with approximately 6.4 doctors per 10,000 people. The strained healthcare system faces challenges, including malpractice issues, lack of effective avenues for patient recourse, and criminal charges against medical professionals. The Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC) has a limited record of holding doctors accountable for negligence, with only 14 doctors punished in its history.
13. Indonesia
Physicians per 1000: 0.47
Indonesia has also come under the wrath of shortages of specialized doctors, with only 46,200 available for its population of 277 million. The shortage amounts to approximately 31,481 specialized doctors, impacting several medical fields. The Ministry of Health attributes the shortage to bureaucratic obstacles in obtaining Registration Certificates (STR) and Practice Permits (SIP), causing delays in doctors' practice.
12. Bhutan
Physicians per 1000: 0.46
Bhutan faces a critical shortage of doctors, with a doctor-population ratio far below the WHO requirement of one doctor per 1,000 people. Currently, Bhutan has nearly one doctor per five thousand people, which indicates a major deficit. It is one of the countries with serious doctor shortages in 2023.
11. Cote D’Ivorie
Physicians per 1000: 0.16
Apart from the severe healthcare professional shortages in the country, the health system in Cote d'Ivoire faces serious challenges like outdated wards, understaffing, and poor training. Despite ongoing reforms, financial, technical, and human resource shortfalls persist. Moreover, patients often face conditions where cash payment is prioritized over their actual medical needs. The Ivorian health system suffers from inadequate training and corruption at various levels.
10. Rwanda
Physicians per 1000: 0.12
While the physician shortages in Rwanda are unbelievably severe, the healthcare situation otherwise is also inadequate. Some of the highest causes of death in Rwanda are lower respiratory infection, neonatal disorders, stroke, tuberculosis, and Ischemic heart disease, all of which are not treated appropriately. It is one of the countries that need doctors.
9. Gambia
Physicians per 1000: 0.11
Gambia, like many other countries, is observing a scarcity of medical specialists, with a doctor-to-population ratio of 1 to 10,000, falling below the WHO-recommended standard of 1 to 1,000. Moreover, another point of worry is that there is a concentration of specialists in urban areas, particularly in the Banjul region. In 2021, 99% of the 79 specialists were located in western regions, leaving rural areas underserved.
8. Ghana
Physicians per 1000: 0.11
Ghana is observing a grave deficit of health workers, with only 67% of the needed workforce for primary health care, according to research published in the PLOS ONE journal. The study estimates a need for at least 221,593 health professionals across eleven categories in primary health care, with the current stock at about 148,390. By 2035, the required number could rise to 495,273. The shortage is particularly acute for doctors, professional general nurses, medical laboratory scientists, and pharmacists.
7. Burkina Faso
Physicians per 1000: 0.09
In Burkina Faso, the ongoing security crisis since 2015 has led to widespread displacement, with an estimated 1.9 million people forced to leave their homes. Over 500 health facilities have closed or operate at minimal capacity, severely impacting access to essential healthcare. Displaced individuals often lack access to medical care, and many communities are deprived of basic services.
6. Senegal
Physicians per 1000: 0.09
Shortages in Senegal's healthcare sector have led to a concerning brain drain, with doctors seeking better opportunities abroad, particularly in France. It is the allure of higher salaries, improved working conditions, and advanced medical platforms that have contributed to this trend. Senegal is one of the countries in urgent need of medical practitioners.