Rwanda - Physicians (per 1,000 people)

Physicians (per 1,000 people) in Rwanda was 0.118 as of 2019. Its highest value over the past 59 years was 0.138 in 2017, while its lowest value was 0.008 in 1960.

Definition: Physicians include generalist and specialist medical practitioners.

Source: World Health Organization's Global Health Workforce Statistics, OECD, supplemented by country data.

See also:

Year Value
1960 0.008
1965 0.014
1970 0.017
1975 0.017
1980 0.032
1981 0.031
1983 0.029
1985 0.027
1989 0.040
1993 0.040
2002 0.019
2004 0.049
2005 0.024
2008 0.052
2009 0.055
2010 0.055
2011 0.013
2013 0.102
2014 0.091
2015 0.113
2016 0.123
2017 0.138
2018 0.134
2019 0.118

Development Relevance: The WHO estimates that at least 2.5 medical staff (physicians, nurses and midwives) per 1,000 people are needed to provide adequate coverage with primary care interventions (WHO, World Health Report 2006).

Limitations and Exceptions: The WHO compiles data from household and labor force surveys, censuses, and administrative records. Data comparability is limited by differences in definitions and training of medical personnel varies. In addition, human resources tend to be concentrated in urban areas, so that average densities do not provide a full picture of health personnel available to the entire population.

Statistical Concept and Methodology: Health systems - the combined arrangements of institutions and actions whose primary purpose is to promote, restore, or maintain health (World Health Organization, World Health Report 2000) - are increasingly being recognized as key to combating disease and improving the health status of populations. The World Bank's Healthy Development: Strategy for Health, Nutrition, and Population Results emphasizes the need to strengthen health systems, which are weak in many countries, in order to increase the effectiveness of programs aimed at reducing specific diseases and further reduce morbidity and mortality. To evaluate health systems, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that key components - such as financing, service delivery, workforce, governance, and information - be monitored using several key indicators. The data are a subset of the key indicators. Monitoring health systems allows the effectiveness, efficiency, and equity of different health system models to be compared. Health system data also help identify weaknesses and strengths and areas that need investment, such as additional health facilities, better health information systems, or better trained human resources. Data on health worker (physicians, nurses and midwives, and community health workers) density show the availability of medical personnel.

Aggregation method: Weighted average

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Health Indicators

Sub-Topic: Health systems