[afro-nets] WHO alliance aims to tackle the world's lack of health workers (4)

["Brian Pazvakavambwa" <pazvakavambwab@zw.afro.who.int>]

WHO alliance aims to tackle the world's lack of health workers (4)
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A good reference is the report of the first High-Level Forum on the Health Millenium Development Goals held in Geneva in 2004, which has a nice situation analysis and gives some suggestions on what can be done, using examples of what some countries are doing as a basis. You can download the full report from:
http://www.hlfhealthmdgs.org/Documents/HealthWorkforceChallenges-Final.pdf

Below is an abridged summary of the report that list members may find useful.

HEALTH WORKFORCE CHALLENGES: LESSONS FROM COUNTRY EXPERIENCES

High Level Forum on the MDGs

High-Level Forum (HLF) on the Health Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) (2004)

This report, written for the High Level Forum on Health MDGs, outlines the looming crisis in human resources for  health (HRH) confronting most countries in sub-Saharan Africa, and suggests concrete actions that can be taken to avert this crisis. The authors outline three dimensions of the crisis. Firstly, there is an absolute shortage of health workers in some countries. Secondly, human resources are unevenly distributed.  Finally, the productivity of human resources is low. The authors argue that these issues are related. For example, the HIV and AIDS epidemic creates new burdens on the health workforce, while at the same time reducing its numbers and productivity.

The authors provide a range of suggestions on how to tackle this crisis. Two basic elements in any strategy should include: an analysis of HRH in health systems to identify specific measures to address the crisis; and strengthening the information basis for policy formulation with information on inflows, outflows, staff population size, and distribution of HRH. The authors highlight how a successful strategy needs to include a range of measures, including approaches that are aimed at increasing inflows of staff, reducing migration, increasing capacity, reducing demands, achieving better distribution and creating a more appropriate level and mix of skills. [adapted from author]

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The aim of the High-Level Forum (HLF) on the Health Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is to provide an opportunity for candid dialogue between senior policy makers and identify opportunities for accelerating action on the health-related MDGs. The HLF is coordinated jointly by the World Health Organisation and the World Bank, which together form the HLF Secretariat.

The first High-Level Forum (HLF) on the Health Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) took place in Geneva in January 2004. It brought together heads of agencies, ministers and senior officials from seventeen developing countries; heads of eleven bilateral agencies; eight multilateral agencies; and nine foundations, regional organisations and global partnerships. The second High-Level Forum on the Health MDGs was held on 2-3 December, 2004 in Abuja, Nigeria

Eldis is funded by Sida, NORAD, DFID and SDC, and is one of a family of knowledge services provided by the Institute of Development Studies, Sussex.

Contact details: 

Peter Ferguson  
ELDIS Programme
at the Institute of Development Studies, Sussex
Brighton BN1 9RE, UK
Tel: +44 1273 877330
Fax: +44 1273 621202
Web: http://www.eldis.org
Email: mailto:eldis@ids.ac.uk

--
Brian Pazvakavambwa
WHO AFRO & AFRO-NETS Moderator
mailto:pazvakavambwab@zw.afro.who.int