PHA-Exchange> Health-care workers must be given a fairer deal--WHO

[Claudio]

Press Release
The World Health Organization (WHO) warned today that failure to address problems confronting health workers may push some health systems to the brink of collapse.



Decades of cost-cutting and under-investment in health have resulted in poor working conditions for many health workers. This has led to an exodus of health workers overseas for higher pay, the deterioration of some health services and erosion of public trust in health systems.



It is high time health workers were paid decent salaries, and provided with the right working conditions and the right equipment to do the work they are trained to do.  Governments must act now and implement a better deal for health workers.



In recognition of the vital contribution of health workers to society and to raise awareness about their plight, WHO has devoted this year's observance of World Health Day, on 7 April, to the world's health workforce.



WHO has also published the World Health Report 2006, which seeks the alliance of stakeholders-policy-makers, international donors, politicians, health professionals, civil society, faith-based organizations and the media-to properly address the technical and political challenges of health workforce development.



Health workers are among the unsung heroes of our time.They work long hours in difficult conditions, often with little reward and sometimes at risk to their own health.



Traditional diseases, combined with modern-day lifestyle illnesses and the additional burden of emerging diseases and a growing ageing population, already are causing unprecedented strain on health-care systems.



While efforts are being made to deal with these health concerns, failure to act on long-standing issues affecting health workers will affect not only health systems, but the well-being of people and of future generations.  Without the devotion of health workers, public health services will be in crisis and will not be able to cope with the ever-growing burden of disease.



In a move to strengthen health workforces, WHO has called on Member States to set up specific targets:

·         All countries and areas should have a strategic national workforce plan-several countries and areas in the next year and all within five years.

·         Investments in preparing the workforce through strengthened education and training should be dramatically increased.

·         Local and national innovations should be scaled up such as health insurance, remote area allowances and subsidized mortgages.


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