In this article, we will look at the 20 lowest paying countries for doctors. We have also discussed the global healthcare challenges and developments.
The current global healthcare landscape, as discussed at the 2024 Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, reveals a multifaceted approach towards addressing pressing issues and advancing healthcare worldwide. One significant initiative highlighted is the Global Alliance for Women’s Health, recognizing the potential to improve health outcomes and add $1 trillion to the global economy annually by 2040 through closing the gender gap in healthcare.
Speaking of the gender gap, it is worth highlighting that CVS Health Corp (NYSE:CVS) is dedicated to fostering diversity and inclusion, particularly in bridging gender gaps within its workforce. By implementing various initiatives, CVS Health Corp (NYSE:CVS) has made major efforts in this regard. With 55% of managers and above being female and 63% of pharmacists being female, CVS Health Corp (NYSE:CVS) demonstrates its commitment to gender diversity. Furthermore, 17 Colleague Resource Groups (CRGs) with over 28,000 colleagues nationwide promote personal and professional development while advocating for diversity, equity, and inclusion.
These initiatives not only break down employment barriers but also create a culture of trust and belonging. By offering equitable access to growth and development opportunities, CVS Health Corp (NYSE:CVS) ensures that every individual, regardless of gender, has the chance to reach their full potential.
Moreover, digital transformation has been seen as a key driver of healthcare improvement, with initiatives like the Digital Healthcare Transformation Initiative focusing on leveraging data and AI to enhance healthcare delivery and patient outcomes globally. However, challenges such as access to essential healthcare services and rising costs remain, highlighting the need for innovative solutions.
For example, HCA Healthcare Inc (NYSE:HCA) has recently partnered with Google Cloud to explore AI to alleviate burdens within the healthcare system. With over 180 hospitals and 2,300 ambulatory care sites, HCA Healthcare Inc (NYSE:HCA)’s ambition to leverage artificial intelligence is substantial. By teaming up with Google Cloud, HCA Healthcare Inc (NYSE:HCA) aims to streamline administrative tasks for medical professionals, allowing them to prioritize patient care. Through pilot programs utilizing AI technology, such as Augmedix’s medical documentation platform, HCA Healthcare Inc (NYSE:HCA) seeks to enhance efficiency and reduce physician burnout. Initial feedback from emergency department doctors participating in these programs has been positive, indicating the potential for widespread adoption across HCA Healthcare Inc (NYSE:HCA)’s network.
It is interesting to note that antimicrobial resistance poses a major threat to global health, with efforts focused on developing policy incentives and financing mechanisms to spur antibiotic innovation and ensure evidence-based antibiotic use. Nutrition also takes center stage, with the New Frontiers of Nutrition initiative aiming to address the health and environmental impacts of poor diets by promoting healthier consumption patterns and systemic solutions.
It is concerning to note that the global healthcare sector is struggling with serious shortages, with an estimated 6.4 million physicians required to meet universal health coverage (UHC) goals worldwide. A comprehensive study revealed that as of 2019, 132 countries were facing shortages in different healthcare personnel. The scarcity extends beyond physicians, encompassing nurses, midwives, dental personnel, and pharmaceutical staff, with a staggering global deficit exceeding 43 million healthcare workers compared to targets necessary for achieving UHC. To read more about nursing shortages, see countries that need nurses the most.
Across different regions, major disparities in healthcare worker density were evident. For instance, South Asia faced a shortage of 2.57 million physicians, while sub-Saharan Africa lacked an estimated 1.92 million. This shortage confirms the pressing need for coordinated efforts to address healthcare workforce deficits. As countries strive to achieve universal health coverage and meet Sustainable Development Goals, the provision of adequate healthcare personnel emerges as a crucial determinant.
While doctors are struggling with low wages in Asia, doctors earn substantial incomes in the western countries like Australia and United States. In fact, United States is one of the highest paying countries for doctors. To read more about high-paying countries for doctors, see the highest paying countries for doctors.
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Our Methodology
To list the lowest paying countries for doctors, we identified 35 lowest paying countries in the world general with the lowest minimum wages. For those 35, we obtained the average annual salaries for physicians by country from WorldSalaries.com. The 20 countries with the lowest average salaries for doctors were eventually selected and have been been ranked below in a descending order.
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20. Cambodia
Average Salary: $27,366
The country’s economic challenges and limited healthcare budget have resulted in lower salaries across the medical profession. Additionally, inadequate funding for healthcare infrastructure and resources constrains the ability to offer competitive wages. Moreover, historical and social factors contribute, including the aftermath of the Khmer Rouge regime, which decimated the healthcare system in Cambodia.
19. Indonesia
Average Salary: $24,695
Indonesia is trying to improve its healthcare system amidst a shortage of doctors but is facing resistance from local medical professionals. Proposed legislation aims to ease entry for foreign doctors and waive tuition fees for Indonesian medical residents. These reforms aim to address the country’s low doctor-patient ratio and improve healthcare access, but encounter opposition from domestic nurses and physicians. Given the shortage, Indonesia is also one of the countries with the highest demand for doctors.
18. Philippines
Average Salary: $23,485
In the Philippines, doctors face major salary issues, exacerbating challenges in the healthcare sector. Recent proposals by Quezon City 5th District Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas aim to address this disparity. House Bill No. 1682 and HB 3776 advocate for increasing the salary grade of public doctors and dentists by two levels, respectively.
17. Chad
Average Salary: $23,307
Chad faces persistent issues such as poverty, political instability, and a reliance on foreign aid. These factors contribute to insufficient funding for healthcare, resulting in meager compensation for medical professionals. Additionally, brain drain exacerbates the situation as qualified doctors seek better opportunities abroad, further straining the healthcare workforce.
16. Vietnam
Average Salary: $20,239
In Vietnam, the current pay scheme for doctors presents a significant challenge, particularly for young professionals. With starting salaries around VND4.2 million per month ($170 per month), many struggle to meet basic needs. This low income discourages new graduates from entering the medical profession, exacerbating the country’s shortage of healthcare workers. Moreover, the extensive education and training required for medical practitioners, coupled with the high costs associated with ongoing professional development, further strain their financial situation.
15. Mozambique
Average Salary: $17,851
In Mozambique, the Ministry of Health has announced plans to address doctor salary issues by paying outstanding overtime amounts for 2022 and 2023 starting from August, amidst ongoing strikes. Manuel Macebe, the deputy director of human resources, confirmed this decision, aiming to mitigate protests against wage cuts and overdue payments. The strike of around 2,000 to 2,500 doctors confirms the dissatisfaction of doctors in the country.
14. Rwanda
Average Salary: $16,091
Rwanda’s healthcare system faces severe challenges, rendering it one of the worst countries for doctors. Decades of political instability, including the 1994 genocide, left the country’s infrastructure in ruins. Limited resources, insufficient medical facilities, and a shortage of trained personnel compound the issue.
13. Argentina
Average Salary: $14,550
Healthcare workers in Buenos Aires, Argentina, are facing dire conditions due to low wages exacerbated by runaway inflation. Amid projections of a 100 percent inflation rate, professionals demand a significant pay raise, with a proposed minimum of 200,000 pesos monthly. Resident doctors, vital for hospital care, currently receive around 120,000 pesos per month, while nurses earn a basic salary of 85,000 pesos.
12. Bhutan
Average Salary: $13,690
One of the reasons why Bhutan pays low salaries to doctors is that Bhutan prioritizes equitable distribution of resources, which may lead to standardized pay scales across professions. Moreover, cultural values focusing on service over financial gain also influence remuneration structures for doctors. With an average salary of $13,690, Bhutan is one of the countries where doctors are paid the least.
11. India
Average Salary: $11,456
India is one of the lowest paying countries for doctors in Asia. Becoming a doctor in India is fraught with challenges that deter even the most determined individuals. With a meager 0.7 doctors per 1,000 Indians, the doctor-to-patient ratio pales in comparison to countries like China, the UK, and the US. The relentless workload, often exceeding 100 hours per week, leaves little room for personal life or rest. Despite the grueling hours, salaries remain abysmally low, with many doctors struggling to afford basic necessities.
10. Angola
Average Salary: $9,824
In Angola, doctors fight severe salary challenges and are hence, demanding better working conditions. Approximately 5,600 doctors, representing the majority of the profession, initiated strikes in 2022, seeking improvements after 20 children died due to shortages of medicines and medical equipment. Despite concessions such as a 6% salary increase, doctors deem it insufficient.
9. Madagascar
Average Salary: $8,887
As one of the top 10 lowest paying countries for doctors, Madagascar’s healthcare system is underfunded and lacks resources, leading to limited financial support for medical professionals. Moreover, the high cost of medical education burdens doctors with significant debts upon graduation, exacerbating the issue.
8. Turkey
Average Salary: $8,500
In Turkey, the exodus of doctors is alarming, with 2,700 applying for work abroad in 2023, nearly double from the previous year, marking a 70-fold increase over 11 years. The migration deprives Turkey of essential healthcare professionals, exacerbating shortages in specialties like oncology and paediatric neurology. Factors driving this brain drain include poor pay, long hours, and escalating violence against medical staff, with 422 incidents recorded in 2022 alone.
7. Pakistan
Average Salary: $8,164
In Pakistan, doctors, including medical officers, trainee medical officers, and house job doctors, have been struggling with stagnant salaries for several years, despite their round-the-clock hospital duties.
Recently. the Young Doctors’ Association in Peshawar has raised concerns about their low pay, demanding parity with counterparts in Islamabad and Punjab, which are also lower paying as per international standards.
6. Zambia
Average Salary: $7,324
In Zambia, salary issues, particularly among public workers like doctors, have reached critical levels. Apart from the concerningly low salaries, Zambia Congress of Trade Union has also sounded alarms over increased labor unrest due to delayed payments. Recent reports indicate that public workers, including those in universities and local councils, are facing major delays in receiving their salaries. This has led to work stoppages and heightened tensions among workers.
5. Uganda
Average Salary: $7,200
In Uganda, the plight of doctors reflects a systemic issue of poor remuneration. With an annual influx of 500 newly qualified doctors, the disparity between available positions and government recruitment is stark. Only 1,600 doctors are employed by the government, leaving 4,000 vacant posts in public hospitals. This dire situation pushes many skilled medical professionals to seek opportunities abroad, where they can earn better salaries. The trend exacerbates concerns among health advocates, especially amidst ongoing strikes for improved wages. Francis Omaswa, Executive Director of ACHEST, highlights the urgency for government intervention to curb the brain drain and ensure adequate healthcare staffing. The issue not only compromises local healthcare services but also perpetuates global inequalities in medical workforce distribution.
4. Bangladesh
Average Salary: $6,970
In Bangladesh, the issue of low doctor wages has come to a head, with trainee doctors launching an indefinite strike demanding a pay raise. Approximately 10,000 trainee doctors in government hospitals across the country have joined this movement simultaneously. The Postgraduate Private Trainee Doctors Association initiated the strike, seeking a minimum allowance of Tk50,000 and regular payment of that allowance. They emphasize that their protest will persist until this demand is met through official notification. Comparatively, trainee doctors in neighboring countries receive significantly higher allowances, such as 1,50,000 Rupees in India and approximately 75,000 Pakistani Rupees in Pakistan.
President of the association, Dr. Jabir Hossain, highlighted the stark difference, stating that in Bangladesh, trainee doctors receive a mere Tk20,000 allowance, the lowest in Asia. The demand for a raise to Tk50,000 stems from the necessity to uphold a fair standard of living amidst escalating commodity prices. Despite aspirations to provide top-notch medical services, doctors currently struggle with minimal allowances. Despite reaching out to various medical organizations for support, including the Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons and the Bangladesh Medical Association, the trainee doctors have yet to see promising steps taken to fulfill their demands.
3. Nigeria
Average Salary: $5,894
Nigerian doctors face significant salary discrepancies compared to their foreign counterparts, with earnings amounting to less than 10% of what doctors in other countries receive. Despite some increments over the years, the average annual salary for Nigerian doctors remains comparatively low. Data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) indicate that most Nigerian doctors migrate to countries like the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Ireland, and Germany in pursuit of better wages.
The disparity in salaries has contributed to brain drain, exacerbating the shortage of medical professionals in Nigeria. Despite efforts such as proposed legislation to curb migration, underlying issues including inadequate remuneration, poor working conditions, and insufficient healthcare infrastructure persist, prompting ongoing discontent among medical practitioners.
2. Ethiopia
Average Salary: $4,620
In Ethiopia, the healthcare sector struggles with consistently critical challenges, notably a dire shortage of medical professionals. With only 0.1059 physicians per 1,000 people, the country faces an acute deficit. Furthermore, despite approximately 30 medical schools, insufficient training institutions exacerbate the issue. Compounded by inadequate wages, healthcare workers are forced into multiple jobs to make ends meet, with a high risk of burnout. Consequently, professionals seek opportunities abroad, with an estimated 2,000 leaving annually. This exodus compromises healthcare delivery, leading to severe consequences such as fatalities and complications due to medicine and equipment shortages. To mitigate this crisis, strategies like the National Health Equity Strategy have been launched, signaling government commitment to improve conditions and retain skilled professionals.
1.Sudan
Average Salary: $1,899
Sudan’s low wages for doctors stem from a combination of economic challenges, government prioritization, and resource allocation. The country has faced prolonged economic instability, with limited funds allocated to healthcare. Additionally, political unrest and conflicts have diverted resources away from essential services like healthcare. Government policies often prioritize other sectors over healthcare, resulting in limited investment in medical infrastructure and staff salaries. Moreover, a surplus of medical graduates competing for limited positions exacerbates wage suppression. These factors collectively contribute to the disproportionately low wages for doctors in Sudan compared to other professions and international standards, making Sudan the lowest paying country for doctors in the world.
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Disclosure: None. 20 Lowest Paying Countries for Doctors is originally published on Insider Monkey.
