This study highlights the global crisis of healthcare workforce shortages and the challenges faced by low- and lower-middle-income countries in building sustainable health capacity. The work aligns with global health priorities outlined by the World Health Organization and contributes to evidence on strengthening global health partnerships. A GlohMed investigator (Dr. Suraj Bhattarai) is among researchers contributing to this important paper.
This study collected cross-sectional data using an 89-question online survey distributed between December 2023 and February 2024 via the Consortium of Universities for Global Health platforms. A total of 123 respondents participated, with most representing LMIC institutions (54%) and strong representation from the African WHO region (65%). The analysis focused on six domains of global health capacity building, examining workforce training, funding, retention, infrastructure, and partnership effectiveness.
Findings show that LMIC institutions face major barriers to building clinical workforce capacity. Key challenges include limited career development opportunities, heavy workloads, inadequate funding, weak professional development structures, and poor infrastructure. Differences between administrative priorities and frontline workforce needs were also identified, highlighting the importance of context-specific solutions such as mentorship programs, scholarship access, and more equitable partnerships with high-income country institutions.
This study provides important guidance for designing sustainable and equitable global health partnerships. The results emphasize that strengthening workforce capacity requires coordinated investment in training, career pathways, retention strategies, and locally tailored partnership models to improve long-term health system resilience.