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

[Claudio]

>From Antoinette Ntuli <ant at hst.org.za>

> I am completely in support of health workers needs for improved
> working and social conditions, and acknowledge the difficult and
> often painful choices that many health professionals have made.
> And, I absolutely agree with you that many governments have pre-
> sented mixed messages to health workers, and that this has con-
> tributed to internal push factors. There are of course a myriad
> of additional push factors that underpin migration that together
> with pull factors have resulted in massive outflows of health
> workers.
> 
> However, I do not agree that most developing countries unfairly
> blame the developed world for their problems. It is impossible
> to ignore the real extraction of wealth from the South, which
> has benefited the North, and created hazardous and trying condi-
> tions for governments and populations of the South. Nor do I be-
> lieve that recognition of the perverse subsidies should be posed
> as an either/or in relation to the responsibilities of develop-
> ing country governments.
> 
> My point in wondering why the World Health Report has made no
> calls for compensation is that those countries that are serious
> about wanting to strengthen and improve the provision of basic
> services, including health care, need financial resources to do
> this. If we (the global community) continue to condone the South
> resourcing the North which has good health worker to population
> ratios, by using the meagre resources of poor countries to train
> health professionals for well endowed countries, without provid-
> ing any financial reparation for this contribution, the vicious
> cycle of decline within health systems in the South will con-
> tinue.