Leveraging international partnerships to solve regional health workforce crises in healthcare: A global perspective (YEL 2025)

Authors: Kelsey Fuller (USA), Luis Teles (Portugal), Muhannad Almughthim (Saudi Arabia), Parnika Kodali (USA) and Tewodros Bilata (Ethiopia)

Reviewers: Abel Tesfaye (YEL 2023) and Samar Almuntaser (YEL 2020)

Introduction

The world health workforce is getting strained. WHO estimates that there will be more than 10 million health worker shortages by 2030, and the largest shortages will be in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The COVID-19 crisis magnified the historic weaknesses in the workforce planning, education, and retention, especially in the countries that already had systemic gaps. To address these challenges, international partnerships have emerged as critical mechanisms to strengthen capacity, facilitate skill transfer, and promote equity in health systems. 

We interviewed leaders and frontline providers across multiple countries to understand what drives their engagement and retention. Despite differences in roles and cultural backgrounds, a unifying sentiment emerged—a shared purpose rooted in making an impact and fostering a strong, values-driven culture. 

International partnerships are increasingly being used to address these workforce shortages by expanding training, facilitating skills transfer, and strengthening fragile health systems. However, their success varies widely and often depends on context, design, and political will. As Marty Ardron, Senior Vice President of Hospital Operations at Kaiser Permanente, reflects, “Healthcare is a mission. Human beings are invited to healthcare.” His observation underscores a truth echoed across settings: while personal motivation and moral commitment sustain the profession, they cannot alone support a workforce under chronic strain. Sustainable systems require structural and relational investment that reinforces both purpose and capacity.  

As Young Executive Leaders (YELs) from diverse regions—including North America, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe—we bring varied experiences and perspectives to this analysis. Our shared commitment to collaboration and inclusive leadership reflects the belief that sustainable health systems depend on collective accountability, empathy, and global solidarity. 

Beyond policy and infrastructure, this crisis is inherently people-centric. At its core are individuals – health workers, educators, and community leaders – whose compassion, resilience, and engagement sustain health systems. Addressing workforce shortages, therefore, requires not only ethical frameworks but also a grounded sense of human connection and shared purpose. Partnerships succeed when they honor the dignity and lived experiences of the people who make healthcare possible. 

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