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The growing gap between the supply of health care professionals and the demand for their services is a critical issue facing governments, managers and professionals seeking to improve international health and development. This paper from the Global Health Workforce Alliance provides an overview of the use of incentives for health care professionals. It describes some of the different approaches taken and presents characteristics shared by effective incentive schemes. The paper also suggests some approaches to their development and implementation.

The authors argue that human resources are the key element of service delivery. Even in the most well resourced and technologically advanced countries the interactions between health professionals and their patients remain at the heart of service provision. Non-financial incentives include provision of work autonomy, flexibility in working time and recognition of work. Financial incentives involve direct payment from employer to employee such as wages, bonuses or loans. The paper shows how incentives, both financial and non-financial, provide one tool that governments and other employer bodies can use to develop and sustain a workforce with the skills and experience to deliver the required care. The authors argue that this demands not just political will and continued hard work, but an acknowledgement by all key stakeholders of the commitment, skills and health benefits provided by health professionals worldwide.

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