Cairo: Health systems in the Eastern Mediterranean region are experiencing significant pressure due to a critical shortage of nurses and midwives, warned Hanan Balkhy, the Regional Director for the World Health Organization (WHO) in the region. This concern was raised during an online seminar held to mark the International Day of the Midwife and International Nurses Day.
According to Jordan News Agency, Balkhy highlighted that approximately one-third of the countries in the region have not achieved the minimum health workforce density required. She stated that ongoing crises have further intensified the challenges faced by frontline healthcare workers. Notably, the region accounted for about 42 percent of global attacks on healthcare facilities in 2025, resulting in 90 percent of deaths, with 67 percent of the attacks directly targeting healthcare personnel.
Balkhy pointed out the WHO's regional initiative aimed at investing in a resilient health workforce. This initiative focuses on supporting regional countries in workforce planning, transforming education and training through digital learning, and strengthening governance to ensure quality and accountability in healthcare systems.
She emphasized that nurses and midwives form the backbone of health systems, constituting more than half of the global health workforce. However, without adequate protection, sustainable investment, and recognition of their crucial role in primary healthcare, particularly in the most complex areas, they cannot continue to bear the burden effectively.