🩺 Health Skills #14
HolonIQ is tracking reskilling and upskilling efforts essential for a rapidly evolving health sector. As medical innovation, digital transformation, and shifting demographics reshape the industry, workforce development is key to enhancing skills, improving efficiency, and ensuring quality care.
This week, Africa launched a Health Workforce Investment Charter, aiming to cut health worker shortages in half by 2030, supported by a $1.3B Global Fund commitment for education and digital training. In Moldova, UNICEF and national authorities introduced a training program for 1,700 school healthcare workers focused on boosting vaccination and nutrition awareness. Australia’s Victoria state began building eco-friendly staff housing at Shepparton Hospital to improve worker retention.
In Baltimore, the Ravens and the Bisciotti Foundation pledged $20M to recruit, train, and retain nurses amid a projected 20% shortfall. North Carolina upskilled over 800 workers through ARPA-funded Work-Based Learning grants, while Alaska’s Mat-Su Health Foundation awarded $2.6M in scholarships to 489 residents pursuing careers in nursing, behavioral health, and allied health fields, reinforcing local healthcare capacity.
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Healthcare Labor Market Trends
⚕️ Africa Launches Health Workforce Investment Charter To Tackle Health Worker Shortages.The Charter, backed by the Global Fund, WHO, and African nations, aims to halve the continent's health workforce gap by 2030, through coordinated, long-term investments in education, job creation, and strategic planning, with the Global Fund contributing $1.3B in Africa (2024–2026).
🥼 Moldova Launches New Training Program to Boost Child Health Through School-Based Vaccination and Nutrition Support. UNICEF and national authorities unveiled a program for 1,700 healthcare workers in schools and kindergartens, aiming to combat declining vaccination rates and rising childhood obesity. The initiative aims to improve children’s well-being and public confidence in health systems.
🏡 Victoria Builds New Housing at Shepparton Hospital to Attract and Retain Healthcare Workers. The Australian government announced a sustainable 18-bedroom apartment project on hospital grounds, featuring solar power, energy-efficient systems, and eco-friendly materials, alongside 18 additional units funded by the Regional Health Infrastructure Fund.
Increasing Number of Staff Leaving NHS Due to Work-Life Balance or Health Issues
👥 More NHS staff are leaving voluntarily, with work-life balance and health issues now the primary reasons. This trend significantly impacts workforce stability and the capacity to deliver consistent, high-quality patient care across the service.
📉 Since 2013/14, resignations citing work-life or health problems have more than tripled. This sharp rise exacerbates existing staff shortages, posing a major challenge for recruitment and retention efforts within the NHS.
🧑⚕️ Addressing the root causes of poor work-life balance and staff health is crucial for economic efficiency. High turnover due to these factors incurs substantial costs, emphasizing that investing in staff well-being is key to a sustainable NHS workforce.
Upskilling/ Reskilling Intiatives
🏥 Baltimore Invests $20M to Recruit, Train, and Retain Nurses Through Major Hospital Grants. The Baltimore Ravens and the Stephen & Renee Bisciotti Foundation awarded $5M each to MedStar, UMMS, Johns Hopkins, and Mercy Medical Center to expand nursing education, offer scholarships, improve retention, and develop career advancement pathways amid Maryland’s projected 20% nursing shortfall by 2036.
📃 North Carolina Upskills 800+ Workers Through Work-Based Learning Grants for Small Businesses. Backed by ARPA funds, the N.C. Department of Commerce and local Workforce Development Boards supported training in healthcare, leadership, and more, involving 346 businesses, offering on-the-job training, short-term certifications, and work experience to boost workforce resilience and economic recovery.
📚 Alaska Upskills 489 Residents With $2.6M in Health and Human Services Scholarships. The Mat-Su Health Foundation awarded scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $9,000 to support students pursuing careers in nursing, behavioral health, and allied health fields, aiming to grow the Matanuska-Susitna Borough's healthcare workforce and meet rising regional demands.
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