Affiliation:
1. Department of Social Medicine School of Public Health Fudan University Shanghai China
2. National Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment (National Health and Family Planning Commission) Fudan University Shanghai China
3. Collaborative Innovation Center of Social Risks Governance in Health Fudan University Shanghai China
4. Shanghai East Hospital Tongji University School of Medicine Shanghai China
5. Department of Epidemiology Jiann‐Ping Hsu College of Public Health Georgia Southern University Statesboro Georgia USA
Abstract
AbstractObjectiveThe similarities and differences in workforce trends in BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) may offer reciprocal lessons for emerging economies.MethodsWe used the Global Health Observatory data to assess the secular trends between 2001 and 2017 in the number of skilled health personnel (SHP: doctors, nurses/midwives) in BRICS compared to the average of Organization for Economic Co‐operation and Development (OECD) countries.ResultsSubstantial efforts have been made in BRICS to increase SHP availability, as demonstrated by an average exponential growth rate (AEGR) > 0.03 in Brazil, China, and India compared to 0.01 in OECD. With an AEGR as high as 0.07 after 2008, China reached the level of SHP availability commensurate with the sustainable development goals (SDGs) in 2017. Other than China, BRICS countries had a mean number of nurses and midwives per doctor between 2001 and 2017 higher than or comparable to the OECD average (2.78). The corresponding number in China was 1.04 in 2017, lower than 2.21 in India in 2001.ConclusionsWith China as the exception, BRICS countries maintained a sustainable skills mix of SHPs. China reached the level of SHP availability commensurate with the SDGs, but SHP's skill mix was imbalanced.