There are just under 28 million nurses worldwide on the frontline battlingCovid-19 to save patients infected with the deadly virus which has taken over 1 million people in its grip. The world needs millions more nurses given the scale of the pandemic.

According to a global report, prepared by the World Health Organisation and released recently there is a global shortfall of 5.9 million nurses, with the greatest gaps in developing nations.

Between 2013 and 2018, nursing numbers increased by 4.7 million. Ironically, one in every eight nurses practices in a country other than the one where they were born or trained. Ageing also threatens the nursing workforce: one out of six of the world’s nurses are expected to retire in the next 10 years, says the WHO in its latest report “The State of the World’s Nursing 2020”.

The report said more than 80 per cent of the world’s nurses work in countries that are home to half of the world’s population.

The report in partnership with the International Council of Nurses (ICN) and Nursing Now, emphasises on the important role of the nurses who account for more than half of all the world’s health workers, providing vital services throughout the health system.

To avert the global shortage, the report estimates that countries experiencing shortages need to increase the total number of nurse graduates by on average 8% per year, along with improved ability to be employed and retained in the health system.

This would cost roughly US$ 10 per capita (population) per year, suggests the report which provides an in-depth look at the largest component of the health workforce while identifying the important gaps and priority areas for investment in nursing education, jobs to strengthen nursing around the world.

“Around the world they (nurses) are demonstrating their compassion, bravery and courage as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic: never before has their value been more clearly demonstrated,” points out the report as it called the, as the “backbone of any health system.”

“Today, many nurses find themselves on the frontline in the battle against Covid-19,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director general.

“Politicians understand the cost of educating and maintaining a professional nursing workforce, but only now are many of them recognising their true value,” added ICN president Annette Kennedy.

“Every penny invested in nursing raises the wellbeing of people and families in tangible ways that are clear for everyone to see. This report highlights the nursing contribution and confirms that investment in the nursing profession is a benefit to society, not a cost.

“The world needs millions more nurses, and we are calling on governments to do the right thing, invest in this wonderful profession and watch their populations benefit from the amazing work that only nurses can do.”

About 90 per cent of all nurses are female, yet few nurses are found in senior health leadership positions-- the bulk of those positions are held by men.

“This report places much-needed data and evidence behind calls to strengthen nursing leadership, advance nursing practice, and educate the nursing workforce for the future,” said Lord Nigel Crisp, co-chair of Nursing Now.

In India too, situation is not impressive, there is a crippling shortage of nurses.  Currently, India has only 1.7 nurses available per thousand population against WHO recommendation of 2.5 nurses per thousand population.