A new analysis by the Inter-American Development Bank highlights how rising temperatures are reducing the working capacity of healthcare professionals across Latin America and the Caribbean. Beyond its impact on health outcomes and agriculture, extreme heat is creating significant productivity losses within healthcare systems by increasing fatigue, reducing concentration, and limiting the number of hours staff can work effectively.
The study estimates that heat exposure causes an average annual loss of about 1.4% of service-sector labor hours across the region, with some countries experiencing losses exceeding 3%. These reductions are equivalent to the annual workload of approximately 10,000 doctors and 16,000 nurses, placing additional strain on health systems already facing workforce shortages.
The impact varies by country and is expected to worsen as temperatures continue to rise. In Belize, for example, heat-related labor losses have more than doubled since the early 1990s, closely following increases in average temperatures. Because productivity losses accelerate as temperatures rise, future climate conditions could significantly reduce healthcare workforce availability without effective adaptation measures.
The findings emphasize that health workforce planning must increasingly consider climate-related challenges. Investments in cooling systems, climate-resilient healthcare facilities, occupational safety measures, and heat-responsive staffing strategies are essential to protect healthcare workers and maintain service delivery. Strengthening resilience to extreme heat will be critical for ensuring that health systems can continue providing quality care in a warming climate.
