Young, Capable and Critical: Investing in the next generation of the health workforce
We’ve seen firsthand the transformative impact young pharmacists can have when given the chance to lead. If we’re serious about building health systems that last, we must start by believing in, and investing in, the people who will shape them.
by Beth Ward, Strategic Lead | Workforce Capability Building
As global health leaders gather for the Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting and the World Health Assembly this May, the conversation must not overlook one of the greatest untapped resources in achieving sustainable health systems: young people.
Across the Commonwealth, where over 60% of the population is under 30, young people are not just the future of healthcare – they are essential to the here and now. Despite this, they are often overlooked in health workforce planning, policy, and investment. If we are to meet the targets set by the Sustainable Development Goals and secure universal health coverage for all, we must prioritise the strategic inclusion of young people in our health systems today.
The workforce crisis meets the youth opportunity
The global health workforce shortage is no longer a looming threat – it is a current crisis. The World Health Organisation projects a shortfall of 10 million health workers by 2030, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries. At the same time, many Commonwealth countries are experiencing rapid growth in the number of young people entering adulthood and the workforce. This presents a powerful opportunity to both address workforce shortages and build health systems that are more sustainable, inclusive, and reflective of the populations they serve.
However, realising this potential will require deliberate and sustained investment. Young people often face barriers from the outset – from limited access to health education and training to a lack of visible and viable career pathways. Attracting future health professionals will require early engagement in schools, locally accessible and relevant training, and targeted financial support, particularly for those from marginalised backgrounds.
For those already studying or practising, national investment in public health systems must translate into tangible employment opportunities. High-quality education, access to mentorship, and structured professional development are essential to retaining young professionals and allowing them to thrive. Crucially, they need to see a future where they can apply their skills, be heard in shaping the direction of their professions, and take on leadership roles over time. Without these conditions, many feel forced to leave the health sector and/or their country, leading to countries’ health sectors missing out on talented professionals and continued instability in the health workforce.
“Investing in young people is essential for building resilient health systems. With their energy, innovation, and long-term commitment, they are key to shaping a sustainable future for healthcare.”
Wofai Eloma
Clinical Pharmacist, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital and
ALF-A Fellow (Class of 2024)
With the right support, young health workers bring innovation, adaptability, and a deep commitment to service. Investing in their success is not only the right thing to do – it is essential for building the resilient, future-ready health systems our communities urgently need.
Young voices, real challenges
For many young professionals across the Commonwealth, the transition from education to meaningful employment is uncertain. In some countries, pharmacists graduate into systems with unclear roles, little support and few structured development opportunities. Others face underemployment or are compelled to migrate both within and between countries in search of better prospects.
Young people are also rarely included in policy discussions that directly impact their futures. They remain underrepresented in leadership, advocacy, and systems design, despite being closest to the ground realities of care delivery.
A youthful workforce is not only more adaptable and digitally fluent, but also deeply aligned with the evolving health needs of 21st century communities. Nurturing the growth of young healthcare professionals strengthens not just the individuals themselves, but the systems they serve too.
A collaborative approach: nurturing the next generation
Empowering young pharmacists is critical to building strong and sustainable health systems, and this work is most effective when done in partnership.
Through collaborative initiatives like the ‘Empowering Youth for a Healthier Tomorrow’ webinar series, the Commonwealth Partnerships for Antimicrobial Stewardship programme and various educational initiatives, the Commonwealth Pharmacists Association (CPA) is working hand-in-hand with national pharmacy associations, academic and healthcare institutions, and young professionals themselves to strengthen leadership and learning opportunities.
Tara van der Vliet
AMS Technical Officer, SPARC and Programme Manager, Commonwealth Year of Youth
“I recently had the opportunity to lead the Empowering Youth for a Healthier Tomorrow webinar series. This series was devised as we at the CPA recognise the crucial role that young people play in the future of healthcare across the Commonwealth, and we sought to help bridge the gap between academic learning and the practical, professional skills necessary for the evolving healthcare landscape.
“As we adapt to new health technologies, pandemics, climate change, conflicts and changing global politics, it is essential that people from all nations work together regardless of age, race or gender. Each generation has a unique ability to bridge the world as they see it, to a world another generation cannot comprehend.
“Only in unity will we have a stronger and more sustainable health system ready to face whatever challenges lie ahead.”
Across the Commonwealth, the young pharmacists who do have the opportunity to step into leadership roles often lack the structured support needed to fully apply their skills and contribute at scale. In response, CPA has been working closely with in-country partners to strengthen leadership capacity and capability among early-career professionals.
Most recently, our Africa Leadership Fellowship – Antimicrobial Stewardship (ALF-A) supported 43 early- to mid-career pharmacists from eight sub-Saharan African countries to develop their leadership skills and apply them in context. These Fellows have gone on to lead workplace and regional improvement initiatives, demonstrating not only their commitment to self-improvement but also the depth of talent that exists within local health systems.
Their success highlights the importance of investing in enabling environments that allow young professionals to flourish, and we look forward to empowering a further cohort of young pharmacists from both Africa and the UK through the ongoing UK-Africa Leadership Fellowship – Antimicrobial Stewardship.
In addition to the efforts listed above, CPA is committed to exploring further opportunities for us to support young people.
Later this year, CPA President Annagrace Malamsha – the youngest President in CPA’s history – is scheduled to engage with global health leaders at the International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation World Congress, pursuing new ways for us to tailor initiatives for pharmacy students: the outstanding pharmacists of the future.
As Commonwealth Health Ministers and global health leaders convene this month, we urge them to place young people at the heart of workforce strategies. This means committing to long-term investment in training, leadership development and job creation, funding programmes that explicitly support early-career professionals, and embedding youth engagement into national and global health governance.
The Commonwealth is uniquely positioned to lead this agenda. With its shared values, diversity, and collective influence, it can set the tone for meaningful, sustained investment in the next generation of health workers.
At the CPA, we remain committed to working alongside national pharmacy associations, governments, and young professionals themselves to create a stronger, more inclusive health workforce – because when our young pharmacists are empowered, health systems are stronger, and our collective future is more secure.
Beth Ward
Strategic Lead
Workforce Capability Building
About the author
Beth is the Strategic Lead for Workforce Capability Building at the Commonwealth Pharmacists Association. She is passionate about the safe use of quality medicines and has had an instrumental role in establishing workforce development initiatives for pharmacists in the Commonwealth.
Prior to this role, Beth was the Associate Director of Education at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS). Here, she led the Education Delivery Strategy, including a partnership with the Royal College of General Practitioners to deliver England’s Community Pharmacist Consultation Service Training programme, the multi-professional Joint Royal College Medication Safety Education Series, and the RPS’ Annual Conference and events programme.