🩺 Health Skills #23

Namibia welcomes Indian investment to establish a pharmaceutical hub and an entrepreneurship center to boost health innovation and skills. In the Philippines, 10 new bills were filed, including one to launch an Advanced Nursing Education Program. Queensland allocates $8.7M to expand the healthcare ambassador workforce and hospital security staff alongside its $18.5B plan that expands facilities. 

In the upskilling/ reskilling arena, Namibia’s Project 2025 trains 450 health professionals over three years in priority fields. MiraCosta College received a $1.2M grant to address San Diego’s nursing shortage through program expansion and simulation labs. Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh launched paramedical courses to train 1,100–1,200 healthcare workers annually.

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Healthcare Labor Market Trends

💰 Namibia Welcomes Indian Investment to Boost Health and Innovation. Namibia’s President commends India’s plans to establish a pharmaceutical manufacturing hub and entrepreneurship development center, aiming to promote skills development, enhance regional health security, and domestic health production. 

📜 Philippine Senator Proposes Advanced Nursing Program to Support Health Workforce. Senator filed 10 new bills, including one to amend the Philippine Nursing Act by establishing an Advanced Nursing Education Program for graduate-level and clinical training. Additional proposals aim to formalize barangay health workers’ roles and enhance healthcare aid and infrastructure. 

💼 Queensland Government Invests $8.7M to Enhance Hospital Safety and Security. This 2025-26 budget allocation focuses on expanding the Healthcare Ambassador workforce and supporting Security Officers, complementing the $18.5 billion Hospital Rescue Plan, which includes 2,600 new beds and expanded facilities, aiming to boost staff and patient safety. 

Hospital Care Topped US Health Spending at 31%

🏥 Hospital care accounted for the largest share (31.2%) of total health spending in 2023, reaching $1.5T. This marked a 10.4% growth, its fastest since 1990, driven by increased hospital discharges and greater medicare outpatient utilization across all major payers.

💊 Spending on prescription drugs and physician services, which occupy another large share of costs, also followed a sharp rise, fueled by rising demand for high-cost medications such as diabetes and obesity, and increased service use.

👁️‍🗨️ This trend raises concerns about long-term affordability and suggests a need to strengthen prevention and shift toward more cost-effective care models.

Upskilling/ Reskilling Initiatives

🧑‍⚕️ Namibia Launches Project 2025 to Train 450 Health Professionals. The project led by Namibia’s Ministry of Health aims to train 450 healthcare professionals over three years in fields such as dental therapy, audiology, and medical engineering, addressing rural-urban disparities and critical skill shortages. 

🥼 MiraCosta College Awarded $1.2M Grant to Combat Nursing Shortage in San Diego. The grant aims to expand nursing programs and develop apprenticeships addressing San Diego’s nursing shortage, while the funding will also enhance simulation labs with advanced equipment to improve clinical training and prepare students for growing workforce demands. 

💉 Himachal Pradesh Launches Paramedical Courses to Boost Rural Healthcare Employment. The state introduced new diploma and certificate paramedical programs expected to produce 1,100–1,200 skilled graduates annually, addressing staff shortages in labs, emergency units, and community health centers, aiming to fast-track job-ready professionals for deployment.

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