WHO REMOVES ZAMBIA FROM HEALTH WORKFORCE RED LIST, OPENING DOORS FOR MEDICAL WORKERS ABROAD.
Zambia’s removal from the World Health Organization (WHO) Health Workforce Support and Safeguard List has sparked debate about the country’s health sector and the possibility of more Zambian medical professionals finding jobs abroad.
The WHO list, commonly known as the health workforce “red list,” identifies countries that face serious shortages of health workers. It aims to protect these countries from losing more doctors, nurses and other medical professionals through international recruitment.
Reports indicate that Zambia has been removed from the list following updates released in September and October 2026.
The development could create more opportunities for Zambian doctors, nurses, clinical officers and other medical professionals who want to work abroad.
However, being removed from the list does not automatically mean that Zambian medical workers can easily get jobs in other countries. They will still need to meet the requirements for professional registration, work permits and immigration in their countries of choice.
The reported development also raises questions about the progress Zambia has made in training medical workers and improving healthcare services.
However, the country still faces challenges in ensuring that hospitals and health centres have enough qualified staff to serve the growing population
While working abroad can offer better salaries and career opportunities, Zambia must also ensure that its health facilities do not lose too many skilled workers.
The government will therefore need to continue training more medical professionals, improve working conditions and provide better incentives to encourage health workers to remain in the country.
Ultimately, the success of this development will depend on whether Zambia can strengthen its healthcare system while allowing its medical professionals to pursue opportunities abroad.
As the country welcomes this reported development, one important question remains, Can Zambia allow its medical professionals to work abroad while ensuring that hospitals and health centres at home have enough staff to serve the people?
– Zambian Watch.