Rising Health Workforce Exodus Will Have Disturbing Effects, Says WHO

Rising Health Workforce Exodus Will Have Disturbing Effects, Says WHO

September 21, 2006

Fifty-seventh Session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific Region
18-22 September 2006, Auckland, New Zealand

    AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Sept. 21 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
What will happen if the Western Pacific's health workforce,
seeking better-paying jobs and professional advancement
abroad, continue to migrate as the region's population
ages, the burden of chronic disease rises and new health
threats emerge?  Serious effects not only on health, but in
the socioeconomic arena as well, are likely to occur unless
urgent measures are taken now to keep health workers
employed in their home countries.

    (Logo: 
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040610/CNTH001LOGO )

    That was the warning voiced today as senior health
officials met here for the World Health Organization's
Regional Committee for the Western Pacific.  The meeting
heard that almost all countries in the Western Pacific
Region face health worker shortages, particularly nurses
and public health workers.  If present trends continue,
this worsening shortage will push health systems to the
brink of collapse, particularly in poor countries where
health needs are greatest.

    On the other hand, health workers who stay behind when
their colleagues emigrate face increasing workloads and a
loss of morale.  As a consequence, hard-won gains in health
may be reversed as serious workforce shortages leave many
countries without the capacity and support needed to mount
effective responses to health problems.

    According to The World Health Report 2006, the shortage
of human resources has replaced funding issues as the most
serious obstacle to implementing health interventions and
treatment plans.  The report urged governments to take the
lead in enhancing the effectiveness of their workforces
through new strategies and innovative actions, with the
support of partners.

    With this in mind, WHO's Regional Committee for the
Western Pacific, WHO's governing body for the 37 countries
and areas that make up the Western Pacific Region, is set
to endorse the Regional Strategy on Human Resources for
Health 2006-2015.  The strategy provides policy options and
practical guidelines to WHO Member States for developing and
sustaining a robust health workforce that meets population
health needs and demands. 

    "Instead of merely averting immediate crises and
current situations, governments must anticipate health
needs or new services and technologies," said Dr
Richard Nesbit, WHO acting Regional Director for the
Western Pacific.  

    In order to tackle human resource issues, WHO Member
States must examine their entire health system, including
infrastructure, technology, logistics, supplies and
financing.  They must attack the health worker shortage in
a coordinated manner by working with all sectors of society
and by building effective partnerships.  Governments will
need to fashion country-specific strategies aimed at
building, sustaining and retaining sufficient, balanced,
competent, productive and responsive health workforces that
can promote equitable access to quality health services.

    Apart from the overall health worker shortages, the
workforce problem is further compounded by minimal or
insufficient expertise in epidemiology, infection control,
laboratory work, logistics, environmental health and risk
communication necessary to meet the challenge of emerging
infectious diseases.  In addition, aid and technical advice
from development partners and donors are mostly fragmented
and uncoordinated.

    WHO estimates the current global health workforce to be
around 59 million people.  There are 39.5 million health
service providers, and 19.5 million management and support
workers.  WHO estimates a global health worker shortage of
more than 4 million doctors, midwives, nurses, pharmacists,
dentists and support workers. 

    WHO emphasized that training, sustaining and retaining
a motivated and supported workforce will require long-term
commitment, structural and fiscal changes, and partnership
at all levels-country, regional and international.

    For more information, please contact:

     Mr Peter Cordingley
     WHO spokesman
     Tel:    [phone] 
     Email:  [e-mail]

     Ms Marilu Lingad
     Assistant/Public Information Office 
     Tel:    [phone] 
     Mobile: [phone] (Auckland)
     Email:  [e-mail]

SOURCE  World Health Organization