Global study details inequity of access to dermatologic care
A cross-sectional study surveying 194 World Health Organization (WHO) member states and three additional geographic areas has identified significant global disparities in access to dermatologic care, particularly in lower-resource settings.
The study, published in JAMA Dermatology (Aug. 26, 2026), assessed key metrics of access to dermatologic care through a 47-question Delphi-derived survey instrument. Researchers distributed the instrument to dermatology leaders in each country from Aug. 2024 to Oct. 2025.
Researchers estimated the density of dermatologists per 100,000 people globally, and the total number of dermatologists worldwide. Secondary outcomes included training program density, workforce distribution, perceived access to care, and the role of non-dermatologist practitioners. The authors then compared outcomes across World Bank Income (WBI) levels and WHO regions.
The investigators received responses from 158 countries, representing 97% of the global population.
The findings revealed a mean (SD) dermatologist density of 2.66 (2.92) per 100,000 population, ranging from 0.37 (0.80) in low-income countries to 5.05 (3.00) per 100,000 population in high-income countries. Yet, based on countries reporting adequate access to dermatologic care, the authors estimate a threshold for sufficient workforce density of 5.63 dermatologists per 100,000 population. Only 17% of countries met this threshold.
Overall, the researchers estimate there are 175,633 dermatologists globally.
Of all responding countries, 21% lacked dermatology training programs, with training availability varying by WBI level. Dermatologists were primarily based in urban centres, with worse distribution in lower-income settings. Overall, 42% of countries reported inadequate or extremely poor access to dermatologic care.
Access to subspecialties of dermatology varied significantly across WBI levels, and was worse in low-income countries.
Respondents cited primary care physicians as the main providers for skin disease care as often as dermatologists, and other non-dermatologist health care workers bore substantial responsibility for this care.
“Achieving skin health equity will require global commitment to expanding and funding training programs, incentivizing decentralization of dermatology practice, and optimizing alternative care delivery, including upskilling front-line health care workers,” the authors write.
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