WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION REGIONAL OFFICE FOR AFRICA
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTE BUREAU REGIONAL DE L'AFRIQUE
ORGANIZAÇÃO MUNDIAL DE SAÚDE ESCRITORIO REGIONAL AFRICANO
REGIONAL COMMITTEE FOR AFRICA Fifty-second session Harare, Zimbabwe, 8–12 October 2002 Provisional agenda item 8.6
AFR/RC52/13 12 February 2002 ORIGINAL: ENGLISH
HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT FOR REALTH: ACCELERATING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REGIONAL STRATEGY Report of the Regional Director EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. Member States of the WHO African Region adopted the Regional Strategy for the Development of Human Resources for Health (AFR/RC48/10) during the 48th session of the Regional Committee in 1998. The resolution called for strengthening the capacity of Member States to optirnize the utilization of their human resources for health with a view to achieving health objectives in the Region. The priority interventions enunciated in the strategy which are still valid today are: policy formulation and development; planning the development of human resources for health; education, training and skills development; administration and management of human resources for health; research and regulation of health professions. 2. Despite efforts by countries to improve the utilization of human resources for health towards better health outcomes, the implementation of appropriate strategies bas been slow, with variable outcomes in countries. This is partly due to the Jack of consistency between countries in the way that human resources for health policies and strategies are developed and implemented, and also the fact that the health sector reform programmes that countries are undertaking have had inconsistent and inadequate approaches towards human resources for health. 3. Poor economic performance and socio-political instability in many countries, coupled with specific issues of migration, brain drain, weak national human resources for health, and out-ofdate management systems in the civil services, also contributed significantly to the slow implementation of the regional strategy for human resources for health. 4. ln response to concerns raised by Member States during the 51st session of the Regional Committee, the present document has been prepared to provide guidance and focus on priority actions that could lead to real and positive changes in countries. 5. The Regional Committee is requested to consider and approve this framework on how to accelerate the implementation of the regional strategy for the development of human resources for health.