Causes and consequences of critical healthcare skills shortage in the Southern Africa Development Community

Background The Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) has a shortage of critical healthcare skills.Aims To identify the causes and consequences of shortages and make policy recommendations.Methods A literature search was conducted using eight electronic databases and the World Health Organization and SADC Websites.Results From the studies reviewed the causes included mismatch between demand and supply, and loss of personnel to developed countries. Underlying factors included poorly functioning education systems and poor working conditions. Of the 16 SADC countries only five met the minimum requirements for nurses and midwives, and four for physicians. These factors exacerbate the population’s poor health, and clinical outcomes.Conclusion Internal reforms to the health and education sectors are necessary to progress towards geographic and demographic equity in health provision. The SADC should set regional targets and monitor the size and composition of the workforce to enable evaluation of progress towards targets.