Due to the shortage of personnel caused by the war and mobilization, Russia is turning to recruit medical workers from Africa, which deepens the degradation of its medical system.
This was reported by the UK Ministry of Defense.
According to the latest data released on April 3, the head of the State Duma of Russia reported a shortage of about 30,000 doctors, which is especially noticeable in district hospitals, where it reaches almost 50%. This figure is higher than the 26,500 recorded in November 2023.
Information from British intelligence indicates that the current shortage of doctors is due to various factors, such as the transition of some medical workers to the private sector and the departure of others abroad. After mass mobilization in September 2022, doctors were warned not to leave the country. However, up to 2% of Russia’s healthcare workers decided to leave the country to avoid conscription.
According to statistics, as of January 2024, the number of doctors in the country has decreased by 7,500 over the past 15 months. The reason for this is the high workload and low pay. According to the analysis of the European Policy Center, to solve this problem, Russia is turning to recruiting medical workers from African countries with limited proven qualifications.
The UK Ministry of Defense argues that the main resources and financial commitments aimed at supporting Russia’s military operations in Ukraine are negatively affecting various civilian sectors serving the Russian population. The number of medical professionals in Russia is projected to continue to decline through 2024. The recruitment of medical personnel from abroad, with limited vetting, may create the potential for degradation of clinical practice.