African Medical Schools Demand Competence-Based Training to Address Health Workforce Crisis
Medical schools across Africa have issued a powerful call for a fundamental shift toward competence-based training to tackle the continent's widening health workforce gap. This urgent appeal was accompanied by demands for stronger retention policies to curb the migration of skilled medical professionals to other regions.
2026 Medical Education Conference Highlights Critical Reforms
The call was made during the 2026 Medical Education Conference of the Association of Medical Schools in Africa (AMSA), which was held in Lagos. Stakeholders from across the continent advocated for coordinated reforms, expanded training capacity, and significantly improved working conditions to strengthen healthcare systems throughout Africa.
Organized in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO), the conference was hosted by three prominent Nigerian institutions: the University of Ibadan, the University of Lagos, and Lagos State University. The event aimed to deepen collaboration and drive substantial reforms in medical education across the continent.
AMSA's Historical Context and Revival
Professor Temidayo Ogundiran, President of AMSA and Provost of the College of Medicine at the University of Ibadan, described the gathering as a defining moment for the association. AMSA was originally conceived in Ibadan in 1961 and formally inaugurated in Kampala in 1963 with the mission to promote collaboration, knowledge exchange, and capacity building among African medical schools.
Ogundiran noted that this conference marked a significant milestone in AMSA's revival, which began in 2008 following the Sub-Saharan Africa Medical Schools Survey. This revival has been strengthened through strategic partnerships with global institutions including the WHO and the World Federation for Medical Education.
Africa's Stark Health Workforce Imbalance
According to Professor Ogundiran, Africa continues to face a severe imbalance between its substantial disease burden and its available health workforce. The continent accounts for only about three percent of the global health workforce despite carrying a disproportionately large share of global disease. He warned that Africa could face a devastating shortfall of approximately 6.1 million health workers by 2030 if current trends continue.
Government Commitment to Medical Education Reform
Nigeria's Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, commended AMSA's longstanding role in advancing medical education across Africa. He emphasized the critical need to align medical training more closely with actual service delivery requirements. Alausa highlighted government efforts to expand training capacity, strengthen accreditation systems, and invest in infrastructure across medical and allied health institutions throughout Nigeria.
The minister stressed the necessity of moving beyond mere certification to genuine competence-based training, noting that healthcare professionals must be properly equipped to deliver safe, ethical, and high-quality care to patients. He also underscored the importance of retention through better working conditions, improved research environments, and competitive incentives for medical professionals.
Expanding Collaboration Across Continents
Professor Olufemi Fasanmade, co-chair of the local organizing committee, explained that AMSA was established to harmonize medical education across Africa and foster meaningful collaboration among institutions. He noted that the association now spans both Anglophone and Francophone countries, with participation from delegates across North America, Europe, and Asia.
Fasanmade added that the conference's hybrid format ensured inclusive participation despite global disruptions, while sessions focused on crucial topics including education reform, mentorship programs, workforce retention strategies, and approaches to manage brain drain. These discussions included leveraging diaspora expertise for long-term gains in Africa's healthcare systems.
