Health sector unions in Ghana and Nigeria warned that Africa’s health and care systems are being pushed toward collapse by mass worker migration driven by low pay, unsafe conditions, underfunding, privatisation, and weak workforce planning. During a symposium in Abuja, union leaders, policymakers and civil society groups highlighted how most African governments have failed to meet the Abuja Declaration pledge to allocate 15% of national budgets to health, leaving hospitals understaffed and workers overstretched. With Africa already facing a projected shortage of 6.1 million health workers by 2030, the continued loss of trained professionals to richer countries is deepening inequalities in access to care. Women, who make up the majority of nurses and midwives, are especially affected by wage gaps, discrimination and workplace violence, while migrant workers often face exploitation and abuse abroad.

The symposium called for urgent action to rebuild and retain the public health workforce. Key demands include increased public investment in health, living wages, safer workplaces, an end to privatisation and outsourcing, and stronger training and career development systems. Governments were urged to adopt fair and ethical migration policies in line with international standards and to formally include unions in workforce planning and migration policy. The statement also called for gender-responsive reforms, better protection for migrant workers, and stronger cross-border union cooperation. PSI stressed that defending health workers’ rights is inseparable from protecting public health and achieving universal access to quality care across Africa.