MUMBAI: Demand for health professionals globally is expected to double by 2030 due to an aging population, demographic change and non-communicable diseases, an industry executive said on Wednesday.
Sachin Alug, CEO, NLB Services, said the global shortage and growing population has increased the demand for Indian health care professionals, who are highly respected in the international market for their skills.
He said, “We are seeing an increase in demand for health professionals within the country as well as in countries like Malaysia, Italy, Portugal, Poland and Germany. We expect the demand for Indian health professionals to double globally by 2030. "
Alug said there has been a steady increase in demand for health professionals in India as well as globally since COVID-19 due to aging population, demographic changes and rise in non-communicable diseases.He said that currently, there are more than 30 lakh registered nurses in India, which means there are only 1.7 nurses per 1,000 people in the country.
"Whereas the World Health Organization (WHO) says there should be three nurses per 1,000 people. Similarly, the doctor-to-patient ratio in India (about 1:1,500) is lower than the WHO (1:1,000) recommendations, especially in “Rural areas pose significant challenges in providing healthcare efficiently across the country,” he said.
Similarly, with the largest number of medical colleges worldwide, India stands as one of the primary exporters of healthcare personnel to developed countries such as Europe, the Gulf region, the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Israel. Alug.
He said, “Japan and New Zealand have also emerged as new destinations for Indian nurses and doctors.“We are seeing 15 per cent growth in demand for Indian nurses in other markets like Norway, Germany, Austria.”
Alug said there is a growing focus on cross-skilling initiatives, which ensure that Indian nurses are equipped with the necessary skills and competencies to meet the specific health care needs of different countries.
He said the adoption of technologies is driving growth in various sectors globally, including healthcare, which has emerged with increasing demand for home health care, including specialized services such as physiotherapy, pain management and chronic disease care.
Alug further said that the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified home health services as a means to reduce exposure and strain on health facilities.
“This experience has led to widespread acceptance and integration of remote car solutions.Similarly, while telemedicine is not a new concept in India, its importance and need has become more evident during the pandemic.
“The major drivers of demand for telemedicine in India were COVID-19, increase in mobile and internet penetration, supportive government policies, advanced technologies and convenience. This sector alone is expected to increase the demand for Indian healthcare professionals by 18-20 per cent. In the next 2-3 years,” said H.
When asked about the availability of adequate skills within the healthcare profession given the high demand globally and nationally, he said that apart from education, training and upskilling opportunities are made available by healthcare giants.“However, in terms of meeting the demand for skills initiatives, we still have a long way to go,” Alug said.
Sachin Alug, CEO, NLB Services, said the global shortage and growing population has increased the demand for Indian health care professionals, who are highly respected in the international market for their skills.
He said, “We are seeing an increase in demand for health professionals within the country as well as in countries like Malaysia, Italy, Portugal, Poland and Germany. We expect the demand for Indian health professionals to double globally by 2030. "
Alug said there has been a steady increase in demand for health professionals in India as well as globally since COVID-19 due to aging population, demographic changes and rise in non-communicable diseases.He said that currently, there are more than 30 lakh registered nurses in India, which means there are only 1.7 nurses per 1,000 people in the country.
"Whereas the World Health Organization (WHO) says there should be three nurses per 1,000 people. Similarly, the doctor-to-patient ratio in India (about 1:1,500) is lower than the WHO (1:1,000) recommendations, especially in “Rural areas pose significant challenges in providing healthcare efficiently across the country,” he said.
Similarly, with the largest number of medical colleges worldwide, India stands as one of the primary exporters of healthcare personnel to developed countries such as Europe, the Gulf region, the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Israel. Alug.
He said, “Japan and New Zealand have also emerged as new destinations for Indian nurses and doctors.“We are seeing 15 per cent growth in demand for Indian nurses in other markets like Norway, Germany, Austria.”
Alug said there is a growing focus on cross-skilling initiatives, which ensure that Indian nurses are equipped with the necessary skills and competencies to meet the specific health care needs of different countries.
He said the adoption of technologies is driving growth in various sectors globally, including healthcare, which has emerged with increasing demand for home health care, including specialized services such as physiotherapy, pain management and chronic disease care.
Alug further said that the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified home health services as a means to reduce exposure and strain on health facilities.
“This experience has led to widespread acceptance and integration of remote car solutions.Similarly, while telemedicine is not a new concept in India, its importance and need has become more evident during the pandemic.
“The major drivers of demand for telemedicine in India were COVID-19, increase in mobile and internet penetration, supportive government policies, advanced technologies and convenience. This sector alone is expected to increase the demand for Indian healthcare professionals by 18-20 per cent. In the next 2-3 years,” said H.
When asked about the availability of adequate skills within the healthcare profession given the high demand globally and nationally, he said that apart from education, training and upskilling opportunities are made available by healthcare giants.“However, in terms of meeting the demand for skills initiatives, we still have a long way to go,” Alug said.
