Health Centres Increase 82% but 13,000 Staff Face Growing Workload Pressures

A comprehensive “Health Labour Market Analysis” has been launched in Mauritius to address critical structural gaps in the nation’s medical workforce, despite the island boasting some of the highest healthcare professional densities in Africa.

Supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), the initiative aims to map the country’s human resources and identify why essential positions remain unfilled across a complex network of 13,000 employees and 375 distinct professional grades.

The Paradox of Plenty

Current WHO data reveals that Mauritius maintains a leading position in the region, with approximately 32 doctors and 36 nurses and midwives per 10,000 inhabitants.

However, officials warn that these robust global indicators mask severe “on-the-ground” tensions.

The healthcare system is currently grappling with:

• Acute shortages in specific medical specialities.
• A significant rise in staff burnout and excessive workloads.
• Uneven distribution of professionals across the territory.

Structural Obstacles

The analysis highlights a “perfect storm” of factors contributing to the current vacancy rates.

Primary drivers include a wave of retirements and the migration of skilled professionals moving abroad.

These issues are further compounded by a lack of specialised training and recruitment processes described as “long and complex.”

Rapid Expansion Strains Resources

The demand for personnel has been intensified by a massive 82% surge in primary care infrastructure.

Between 2022 and 2024, the number of primary care centres rose from 147 to 268.

While this expansion represents a significant leap in public access to treatment, it has created an urgent requirement for additional staff to keep the facilities operational.

The crisis is not limited to the public sector; private healthcare establishments have also reported significant recruitment difficulties, placing the entire national health ecosystem under unprecedented pressure.

Source: Defi Media