The availability of core health workers is a key component of the essential package of health services. An imbalance of health workers, in terms of absolute scarcity and maldistribution across the districts, including rural and urban distribution, significantly impacts access to and the  quality of health service delivery. At the time of the assessment, Sierra Leone had a workforce of 4826 skilled health workers: 323 physicians, 389 Community Health Officers, 3185 nurses, 402 midwives, 41 pharmacists, 30 nutritionists and 456 laboratory technicians. The core health workforce density indicator puts a spotlight on these essential medical professionals. On average, countries require a minimum of 23 core health workers per 10 000 population to achieve adequate coverage rates for the essential primary health care interventions