Rising and ageing populations mean there is an urgent need for trained medical professionals all around the world. CredSure can be part of the solution.
A Global Issue
Let’s start by looking at the US healthcare sector. There’s a rapid rise in the nation’s senior population. This is fuelling the demand for healthcare services, one of the largest employers in the U.S.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), the U.S. healthcare sector will generate more jobs than any other sector between 2016 and 2026.
In India, the size of the health workforce is lower than the number of medical professionals registered with different associations and councils across the country. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends at least 22.8 skilled healthcare workers per 10,000 people. The British Medical Journal (BMJ) research paper, Open, also highlights that India does not meet this minimum requirement.
India needs More Doctors
There is only one government doctor for every 10,189 people. To meet the growing demand for accessible healthcare, there’s a need for an additional 18.8 million ancillary workers. These ancillary workers include:
- nurses
- technicians for the operating room
- radiology
- dialysis
If we take a look at Germany, there are 36,000 posts vacant for therapists, nurses and attendants among other caregivers. Also, the population is ageing rapidly, adding to the urgency of staffing for health and care services.
These are just a few statistics showing the reality of the skills shortages in the healthcare sector globally.
Reasons for Skill Shortage in Healthcare Sector
Strict Licensing Requirements:
As per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the largest number of licensed workers belong to the healthcare sector. For instance, registered nurses should be licensed and must have completed specialised training in their respective subfields. It is mandatory for licensed healthcare practitioners to pass a national exam and obtain a degree certificate from a nationally-recognised education or training institution.
Additionally, not everyone wanting to become a certified medical practitioner has access to the resources; including quality training to acquire job-ready skills and globally-recognised certifications. Thereby, the healthcare sector has fewer job applicants who can explore job opportunities globally.
Relevant skills
Quite rightly, professionals need specific qualifications and skills to become a certified healthcare professional. The shortage of skilled professionals is hard to remedy because individuals cannot prove their level of skill and knowledge. Employers generally face difficulty in filling positions for nursing assistants, speech pathologists and occupational and physical therapists. These positions need years of practice, and successful course completion and certification to be employable.
Lack of consensus on qualifications
In India, students who enrol in healthcare training centres generally gain laboratory-based education. They further need to successfully complete an internship to be qualified to work at hospitals as technicians in the operating theatres, radiologists and nurses. Private healthcare providers avoid hiring candidates from lesser-known private centres, as they might not be able to meet the on-job demands.
In essence, as per estimates, in 2020, the average population age for the U.S., Japan and Europe will be 40, 47 and 46, respectively. Over the next two decades, a 4% decline is predicted in the workforce of industrialised nations. According to forecasts, in Germany, the number of people needing eldercare services will rise to 4.5 million by the year 2060 from the current 2.86 million. This growing elderly population base will require young and skilled healthcare professionals to do the caring roles.
CredSure Helps to Bridge the Skills Gap
There are multiple ways to bridge the rising skills gap in the healthcare sector including skills training, certifications and hiring experts from other countries among others. One such solution is CredSure, a dedicated skills platform built on blockchain technology
The platform helps educational institutes create and send globally recognised, encrypted digital certificates on successful course completion. An individual receiving a digital certificate on CredSure after completing a course in India (or any other country) can apply for jobs anywhere in the world.
Not only can CredSure help individuals to prove their skills and level of education but also aid in filling the workforce shortage in the global healthcare sector.
In the next blog, we will talk about blockchain and how it can reduce the complexity in the skilling and employment landscape. Stay tuned.
You can reach out to us to know more about CredSure or share your thoughts about the healthcare industry.
Also, do book an exclusive demo with our experts and walk through the CredSure journey.
