India’s healthcare system is grappling with a persistent nursing shortage that could slow progress toward universal healthcare goals. According to a research paper by the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), published in BMJ, nurse migration remains a major challenge. Every year, thousands of Indian nurses leave for opportunities in countries like the US and UK, which together absorb over 15,000 foreign nurses annually. While this migration contributes significantly to remittances—India received nearly $100 billion in 2021—it leaves the local system stretched thin.
With only 17.2 nurses per 10,000 people, India lags behind the Philippines, which has 47.9, while the Americas lead with 72.2 per 10,000 compared with just 17.4 in Southeast Asia. Globally, while the nursing workforce has expanded to 29.8 million in 2023, a shortfall of about 5.8 million persists. To strengthen the…
