Another call for the Global Fund to invest in human resources for health

Ooms, van Damme, and Tammerman argued in their article this week in the PLOS Medicine journal that the Global Fund needs to continue to fund health system strengthening and to pay forhealth workers' salary. They use the examples of Mozambique and Malawi to underline the crucial role of Global Fund support for health workforce. The authors argue that current comments at the Global Fund board to limit health systems strengthening support would be a strategic mistake.



See full text at
http://medicine.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.pmed.0040128

Kenya health minister to initiate reform to addres health worker shortages and maldistribution

The Kenya Broadcasting Corporation reports on the plan of the Minister of Health, Charity Ngilu, to initiate a health sector reform project to address health workforce shortage in the country. Four and a half billion shillings in grant are expected from the US for this.

Meanwhile, the training facilities in the country are also facing crisis from shortage of teaching staff. The Kenya Medical Training Colleges Board chairman believes the reason for shortages is from low salary payment resulting in mass exodus of workers to other organizations.

Full text at http://www.kbc.co.ke/story.asp?ID=41695

Norway to import 100,000 more health workers from developing countries

"We will need at least 100,000 new workers in the public health sector in the next decades. I see no way that we will find these among the people already in the country"
"This would be a win-win situation for both Norway and the foreign worker"
Eric Solheim, Minister for International Development

The Norway Post reports on the plan to handle shortage of health workforce in the country. It is estimated that 130,000 more health workers are needed over the next decade and most of them will need to be imported. Instead of sending patients abroad, the Minister is interested in the idea of managed migration when health professionals from developing countries will be recruited for limited period (temporary immigration) before moving back to their home countries at the end of the contract.

The plan is facing resistance from the Nursing Council, however.

Read full text at: http://www.norwaypost.no/cgi-bin/norwaypost/imaker?id=64034

"Phones for Health", information tech for health workers in Africa, to be expanded

The Voice of America yesterday reported on the expansion of the "Phones for Health" program in Africa. Phones for Health is a public-private partnership announced at the GSM World Congress in Spain in February. It aims to assist health workers in HIV/AIDS health care services management. Rwanda is the first country under the program that has a national-scale, real-time information system. Workers can submit report, order drugs, and read treatment guidelines directly on their cellphones. The program plans to expand this health management system into 9 other African countries over the next few years.
Read more at
PEPFAR: "Phones-for-Health" Connecting to a Healthy Future
NYTimes: Wireless Technology Speeds Health Services in Rwanda