The challenges in the health workforce are well known and clearly documented. What is not so clearly understood is how to address these issues in a comprehensive and integrated manner that will lead to solutions. This editorial presents – and invites comments on – a technical framework intended to raise awareness among donors and multisector organisations outside ministries of health and to guide planning and strategy development at the country level.
Human Resources
Addressing the health workforce crisis: Towards a common approach
Dal Poz MR, Quain EE, O\\\'Neil M, McCaffery J, Elzinga G, Martineau T: Human Resources for Health 4:21, 3 August 2006
Band aid for southern African medical brain drain?
Integrated Regional Information Networks, 16 August 2006
New laws introduced by the British government in mid-August 2006 are unwittingly giving the southern African region a temporary reprieve from the brain drain of medical staff. The new laws stipulate that employers in Britain will only be granted work permits for foreign nurses if they can prove that no suitable British or European Union candidate can be found.
Establishing human resource systems for health during post-conflict reconstruction
Smith J, Kolehmainen-Aitken R-L: Management Sciences for Health Occasional Papers (3) 2006
This paper outlines the Human Resources for Health (HRH) issues during the period of reconstruction in post-conflict countries, drawing examples from Afghanistan and Cambodia. It explores issues of restoring a health workforce and outlines key HRH actions for workforce reconstruction, including: identifying available staff; developing HRH management structures, systems and capacity; clarifying HRH roles and responsibilities; establishing health worker equivalencies and upgrading skills; supporting civil service reconstruction; and widely disseminating HRH information.
How are health professionals earning their living in Malawi?
Muula AS, Maseko FC: BMC Health Services Research 6:97, 9 August 2006
Many health professionals in Malawi experience overly challenging environments. In order to survive some are involved in ethically and legally questionable activities such as receiving gifts from patients and pilfering drugs. The efforts by the Malawi government and the international community to retain health workers in Malawi are recognised. There is however need to evaluate of these human resources-retaining measures are having the desired effects.
It is not all about salaries: Nurses in South Africa
Minnaar A, Selebi C: University of the Witwatersrand, August 2006
A study conducted by the Department of Nursing at the University of the Witwatersrand has revealed the top 10 reasons for dissatisfaction in the nursing profession. The study was administered over a period of two years (2003- 2005) in a public hospital in Johannesburg. Dr Ansie Minnaar, lead researcher in the study says “generally all the nurses interviewed experienced low satisfaction. Our findings show that it is not only salaries that are a factor in the nursing profession. Other factors are career prospects, policy implementation, the behaviour of supervisors, and relationships with other nurses and patient.”
Managing health professional migration from sub-Saharan Africa to Canada: A stakeholder inquiry into policy options
Labonte R, Packer C, Klassen N: Human Resources for Health 4:22, 14 August 2006
Canada is a major recipient of foreign-trained health professionals, notably physicians from South Africa and other sub-Saharan African countries. Nurse migration from these countries, while comparatively small, is rising. African countries, meanwhile, have a critical shortage of professionals and a disproportionate burden of disease. What policy options could Canada pursue that balanced the right to health of Africans losing their health workers with the right of these workers to seek migration to countries such as Canada?
Questionnaire for educational needs assessment for ECSACON in member countries
Commonwealth Regional Health Community for east, central and southern Africa
The East, Central and Southern Africa College of Nursing (ECSACON) is an institution invested with the responsibility of improving the quality of health of the communities in the ECSA region through strengthening the contribution of nursing and midwifery services. ECSACON is conducting a needs assessment for its work and has disseminated a questionnaire for those in Authority at the Ministry of Health (MOH) or those in Nursing Regulatory bodies to complete. They ask that the questionniare found at the url given be completed and returned to ECSACON.
The importance of human resources management in health care: A global context
Kabene SM, Orchard C, Howard JM , Soriano MA, Leduc R: Human Resources for Health 4:20, 20 July 2006
This paper addresses the health care system from a global perspective and the importance of human resources management (HRM) in improving overall patient health outcomes and delivery of health care services.
Can biomedical and traditional health care providers work together? Zambian practitioners' experiences and attitudes
Kaboru BB, Falkenberg T, Ndubani P, et al: Human Resources for Health 4 (16), July 2006
An appropriate and effective response to the HIV/AIDS crisis requires reconsideration of the collaboration between traditional and biomedical health providers (THPs and BHPs). The aim of this paper is to explore biomedical and traditional health practitioners experiences of and attitudes towards collaboration and to identify obstacles and potential opportunities for them to collaborate regarding care for patients with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS.
Role of traditional healers in the management of severe malaria among children below five years of age: The case of Kilosa and Handeni Districts, Tanzania
Makundi EA, Malebo HM, Mhame P, Kitua AY,Warsame M: Malaria Journal 5 (58), 18 July 2006
The current malaria control strategy of WHO centres on early diagnosis and prompt treatment using effective drugs. Children with severe malaria are often brought late to health facilities and traditional health practitioners are said to be the main cause of treatment delay. In the context of the Rectal Artesunate Project in Tanzania, the role of traditional healers in the management of severe malaria in children was studied. Traditional health care is not necessarily a significant impediment or a delaying factor in the treatment of severe malaria. There is a need to foster training on the management of severe cases, periodically involving both traditional health practitioners and health workers to identify modalities of better collaboration.