PHA-Exchange> World Health Report 2006 (details)

[Claudio]

From: "Vern Weitzel" <vern.weitzel at undp.org>

. One of the areas explored is the sutuation in Africa: the
> 'epicentre of the global health workforce crisis'. 57 countries (36 in
> Africa) have critical shortages (workforce density below which a high
> coverage of essential interventions is very unlikely) with a global
> deficit of 2.4 million doctors, nurses and midwives.  Countries with the
> greatest burden of disease have the largest shortfalls: the African Region
> has 24% of the global disease burden but only 3% of health workers, and
> less than 1% of world health expenditure. Paradoxically, these shortages
> coexist with large numbers of *unemployed* health professionals, due to
> 'poverty, imperfect private labour markets, lack of public funds,
> bureaucratic red tape and political interference'.
>
> THE WAY FORWARD: WHAT DOES THE WORLD HEALTH REPORT PROPOSE?

 The report proposes ways to address the crisis through building
> training capacity; enhancing the performance of the existing workforce;
> and managing migration, premature sickness, and retirement.
>
> The report finishes with a 10-year plan. 'The decade goal in all countries
> is to build high-performing workforces for national health systems to
> respond to current and emerging challenges. This means that every country
> should have implemented national strategic plans and should be planning
> for the future, drawing on robust national capacity. Globally, a full
> range of evidence-based guidelines should inform good practice for health
> workers... Access to textbooks and other quality teaching materials
> represents an important challenge.'
>
> How will it all be financed? 'Donors must facilitate the immediate and
> longer-term financing of human resources as a health systems investment. A
> 50:50 guideline is recommended, whereby 50% of all international
> assistance funds are devoted to health systems, with half of this funding
> devoted to national health workforce strengthening strategies.'
>
there have been no major announcements on financial
> commitments by big donors. Some $300m had been previously pledged for
> Malawi, but that is just one relatively small country, and it is hard to
> see how the approach can be sustainable both nationally and regionally.
> There is virtually no mention in the report of restitution (financial
> compensation to developing countries that lose their health professionals
> to richer countries).