WHO and the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) propose a strategic partnership to pursue a long-term work plan - open to participation by all medical schools and other educational providers - intended to have a decisive impact on medical education in particular and ultimately on health professions education in general. The WHO/WFME work plan will benefit from the accumulated experience and assets of each partner.
Human Resources
WHO/WFME strategic partnership to improve medical education
World Health Organisation
World Health Day: Chronic deficit of health workers
Inter Press Service News Agency: Capdevila G
There is a critical shortage of health workers - doctors, nurses and lab technicians - in poor countries, which most desperately need them. This was the warning given by the World Health Organisation warned in its annual report on global health problems.
World Health Day: Kenyan medics deplore low pay, scarce incentives
IPS News Agency: Mulama J
As the international community prepared to commemorate this year’s World Health Day on April 7, the issue of poor remuneration for health workers in Kenya were being debated. The pay for doctors and other health care givers in the public service is so low that many of these people could not devote their full time to public service. This forms the basis of the argument for improving remuneration packages for Kenyan doctors.
World Health Day: Mozambican nurses to the fore with ARV distribution
Inter Press Service News Agency: Ayisi RA. 3 April 2006
As World Health Day (Apr. 7) was rapidly approaching, public attention that week was being directed to the widespread shortage of health workers. The theme for World Health Day 2006, 'Working together for health', was chosen to add momentum to efforts at resolving the crisis -- something that is nowhere more evident than in Mozambique.
Africa: Migration of health workers
Eldis dossier
Migration of health workers is a hotly debated issue. It has contributed to shortages of medical staff in many regions of Africa, causing additional strain on already overstretched health systems. This article adresses the issue by discussing key arguments presented in several different published papers on the topic.
Ensuring an infectious disease workforce: Education and training needs for the 21st century
Board on Global Health, Institute of Medicine of the National Academies
In recognition of the microbial and societal complexities underlying infectious disease control, this report emphasizes that mounting an effective response to infectious disease threats will require multidisciplinary efforts involving all sectors of the clinical medicine, public health, and veterinary medicine communities. Such a multidisciplinary approach must rest squarely on a well-prepared work-force within each of these communities. However, "the number of qualified individuals in the workforce required for microbial threat preparedness is dangerously low....".
Health Worker migration
MedAct Reports
Last year, Medact launched two new papers on the 'skills drain' of health professionals from the developing world, examining the economic, governance and human rights issues that surround this controversial issue. It proposes restitution as a solution and undertakes a comprehensive human rights check.
Health workers sceptical of human resources plan
Radebe H, Business Day, 22 March 2006
Pharmacists in hospitals and institutions have dismissed as inaccurate and lacking in detail measures proposed to improve working conditions and stop medical staff quitting SA.
Ignore the World Bank on health, says minister
Mwai E, The Standard - Kenya
Kenya should ignore donor restrictions and employ health workers needed urgently countrywide, an assistant minister has said. The country needs 10,000 health workers to offer improved services, Health assistant minister Enock Kibunguchy said.
Improving motivation among primary health care workers in Tanzania: a health worker perspective
Manongi RN, Marchant TC, Bygbjerg CI: Human Resources for Health 2006, 4:6
In Tanzania access to urban and rural primary health care is relatively widespread, yet there is evidence of considerable bypassing of services; questions have been raised about how to improve functionality. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of health workers working in the primary health care facilities in Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania, in terms of their motivation to work, satisfaction and frustration, and to identify areas for sustainable improvement to the services they provide. The primary issues arising pertain to complexities of multitasking in an environment of staff shortages, a desire for more structured and supportive supervision from managers, and improved transparency in career development opportunities. Further, suggestions were made for inter-facility exchanges, particularly on commonly referred cases. The discussion highlights the context of some of the problems identified in the results and suggests that some of the preferences presented by the health workers be discussed at policy level with a view to adding value to most services with minimum additional resources.