In March 2015, the Association of American Medical Colleges published a report warning that in 2015, the USA will face a shortage of 90,400 medical doctors. The situation is quite similar for almost all the countries. With emerging chronic diseases and increase of life expectancy, the needs of health professionals including medical doctors, nurses, social workers, psychologists, etc. will increase much.

"Human resources for health is really a global crisis that requires global appropriate actions. Having global strategies of increasing the production of health professionals is more practical than containing brain drain (migration). It is time the scope of work of the hospitals be expanded to include health education, in other words hospitals should be ONE STOP CENTRE FOR HEALTHCARE AND HEALTH EDUCATION. If done so, the health education centres will be multiplied by almost 100. In many countries hospitals are hundred times the health schools. In almost all the countries, the candidates for medical schools who have capacity and commitment are many. Only because, the medical colleges and schools can't accommodate them. It has important negative implications for the concerned country and globally per the current and projected increase of shortage of medical doctors. It is important missed opportunity for jobs creation as the demand for medical doctors is expected to increase overtime."

Unfortunately, the actions are at hospital levels that struggle in attracting needed health professionals from everywhere in the world. The number of organizations and individuals specialized in hiring health personnel is increasing at high-speed level. The reality is the fact that the production (training) of medical doctors, nurses, etc.; doesn't respond to the need. Politicians, funders, academicians, health professional councils and other regulators and employers should have accurate data and collegially develop. The proposed study is to help in the process. It will be freely availed to the global community for supporting the development of concrete actions. Everyone will benefit of the results, especially the general population (beneficiaries of healthcare services), but importantly the health professionals and managers of healthcare services (hospitals, clinics, medical schools, etc.).

The survey is limited to medical doctors and nurses in the first phase and will be expanded later to other categories of health professionals. The levels of education concerned are: (i) Degree in general medicine & surgery; (ii) Master in specialized healthcare services of medicine & surgery (Internal Medicine, Surgery, Gynecology, Pediatrics, etc.); (iii) Diploma or Degree in Nursing; and (iv) Master in specialized healthcare services of nursing.The survey is designed as simple as possible to facilitate data collection.

The following are the expected data and sources:

1. Medical (health) colleges and schools of medical doctors and nurses: (i) Number of annual students enrolled for undergraduate (degree) medical studies?; (ii) Number of annual students enrolled for undergraduate (bachelor/degree) nursing studies?; (iii) Number of annual students enrolled for postgraduate (master) medical studies?; (iv) Number of annual students enrolled for postgraduate (master) nursing studies?; (v) Number of annual students graduated of undergraduate (degree) medical studies?; (vi) Number of annual students graduated of undergraduate (bachelor/degree) nursing studies?; (vii) Number of annual students graduated of postgraduate (master) medical studies?; (viii) Number of annual students graduated of postgraduate (master) surgery studies? (ix) Number of annual students graduated of postgraduate (master) internal medicine studies? (X) Number of annual students graduated of postgraduate (master) nursing studies?;
2. Health professional councils: i) Annual number of registered general practitioner doctors?; (ii) Annual number of registered general nurses; (iii) Annual number of registered specialist nurses? (iv) Annual number of registered specialist medical doctors?; (v) Annual number of registered surgeon doctors?; (vi) Annual number of registered physician doctors (Internal Medicine)?; and
3. Health facilities (hospitals, health Centres, clinics, etc.): i) Annual number (available) of general practitioner doctors?; (ii) Annual number (available) of general nurses; (iii) Annual number (available) of specialist nurses? (iv) Annual number (available) of specialist medical doctors?; (v) Annual number (available) of surgeon doctors?; (vi) Annual number (available) of physician doctors (Internal Medicine)?; (viii) Total needs (number) of general practitioner doctors?; (ix) Total needs (number) of general nurses; (x) Total needs (number) of specialist nurses? (xi) Total needs (number) of specialist medical doctors?; (xii) Total needs (number) of surgeon doctors?; and (xiii) Total needs (number) of physician doctors (Internal Medicine)?.

The estimated shortage of surgeons and emerging non-communicable diseases requires physicians (internal medicine), guides in having special focus of data collection of training, regulation and employment of surgeons and physicians.

"The survey respondents (institutions and individuals) will have right to use the entire database. Therefore, the survey respondents (institutions and individuals) accept the information provided used by the community of the survey respondents"

"Process: (i) Click SURVEYS at Mainmenu; (ii) Click survey subcategory 1 or 2 or 3 based on your fields (education, regulation or employment; (iii) click on the questionnaire, (iv) click on start survey; (v) click on take survey; (vi) enter data (except the name, other data are numbers from 1 (please use the dropdown list of numbers); and (vii) submit results. NB: The link of "global labor market of medical doctors and nurses (online survey)" is for providing the background information only. Go to subcategories and questionnaires to proceed the survey.

Survey link below:

http://www.qualityequityhealth.net/index.php?option=com_asurveys&view=categories&id=0&Itemid=874