[afro-nets] Health-care workers must be given a fairer deal (5)

[Bridget Lloyd <bridget@hst.org.za>]

Health-care workers must be given a fairer deal (5)
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Posted on behalf on Antoinette Ntuli <ant@hst.org.za>


Dear Chikosa,

I am completely in support of health workers needs for improved
working and social conditions, and acknowledge the difficult and
often painful choices that many health professionals have made.
And, I absolutely agree with you that many governments have pre-
sented mixed messages to health workers, and that this has con-
tributed to internal push factors. There are of course a myriad
of additional push factors that underpin migration that together
with pull factors have resulted in massive outflows of health
workers.

However, I do not agree that most developing countries unfairly
blame the developed world for their problems. It is impossible
to ignore the real extraction of wealth from the South, which
has benefited the North, and created hazardous and trying condi-
tions for governments and populations of the South. Nor do I be-
lieve that recognition of the perverse subsidies should be posed
as an either/or in relation to the responsibilities of develop-
ing country governments.

My point in wondering why the World Health Report has made no
calls for compensation is that those countries that are serious
about wanting to strengthen and improve the provision of basic
services, including health care, need financial resources to do
this. If we (the global community) continue to condone the South
resourcing the North which has good health worker to population
ratios, by using the meagre resources of poor countries to train
health professionals for well endowed countries, without provid-
ing any financial reparation for this contribution, the vicious
cycle of decline within health systems in the South will con-
tinue.

Antoinette Ntuli
mailto:ant@hst.org.za