Human resources for health
Establishing human resource systems for health during postconflict reconstruction
Clear, well-communicated and evidence-based HRH plans needed in post-conflict healthcare systems
Authors:
J. Smith; R-L. Kolehmainen-Aitken
Publisher:
Management Sciences for Health , 2006
This paper, from Management Sciences for Health, outlines the Human Resources for Health (HRH) issues during the period of reconstruction in post-conflict countries. The paper draws on examples from Afghanistan and Cambodia. The authors explore the issues of restoring a health workforce and outlines key HRH actions for workforce reconstruction. These include: 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.
The authors conclude that a well planned HRH approach is necessary. Elements of this approach include: acknowledging the potential severe effects of conflict on the health workforce; prioritising HRH approaches and systems based on the most detailed available evidence; beginning registration of health workers and the establishment of equivalencies as early as possible; the senior political level must be made fully aware of the rationale behind HRH approaches as well as their implications for the health service; and the rationale for HRH approaches and how they will be implemented must also be clearly communicated to every level of national society. The authors also highlight the critical importance of sharing experiences and approaches in post-conflict countries. [adapted from author]
