Health Ministry: Nearly 100,000 trained health workers unemployed

The Ministry of Health is worried about the rising number of unemployed health workers. They believe this issue partly stems from the unchecked growth of private health training institutions.

Recently, the Parliamentary Committee on Sanitation and Water Resources urged the Ministry of Finance to release funds. They want over 2,000 Environmental Health Officer graduates posted immediately. These graduates have been unposted since 2021 and can help address the country's sanitation crisis.

Other trained health professionals in various specialties also remain unposted since 2021. On May 29, 2025, Tony Goodman, a spokesperson for the Ministry, spoke on the Citi Breakfast Show. He noted that private institutions admit many students without considering actual staffing needs.

Goodman emphasized that the Ministry trains health professionals based on regional and national requirements. However, many private institutions do not follow this demand-driven model. This has led to a backlog of nearly 100,000 unemployed health workers waiting for up to five years.

He stated, "We cannot recruit everybody this year; that is going to be suicidal." There are nearly 100,000 individuals at home who have not been employed for five years. The Ministry cannot hire all of them in one year.

Goodman explained that private training institutions often admit large numbers to make a profit. They then expect the Ministry of Health to recruit these graduates. In contrast, the Ministry trains based on specific regional needs while private institutions do not consider this requirement.