International initiatives
EU strategy for action on the crisis in human resources for health in developing countries
How the EU intends to help developing countries with their healthcare human resource crisis
Authors:
; Commission of the European Communities
Publisher:
European Union , 2005
This policy document from the Commission of the European Communities sets out the action which the European Union (EU) intends to take to assist developing countries to solve the worsening problem of health worker shortages. The document outlines the scale of the crisis in the health systems of developing countries and examines the key issues contributing to the crisis. It highlights how the lack of human resources for health is creating this crisis. The global market for health workers is distorted and affected by inequality in healthcare provision and capacity to pay workers.
The document advocates the use of incentive schemes to encourage workers to remain where they are most needed and argues that the design of such schemes must be based on research, analysis and consultation with health workers. The burden of HIV and AIDS on developing countries is also a serious factor. The document outlines a range of key actions which the EU will take on a national government, regional and global level. At a national level this will include incorporating human resources issues into Poverty Reduction Strategies and into health policy discussions and supporting and financing national human resources plans.
