Health Worker Shortages and Global Justice
Paula O’Brien and
Milbank Memorial Fund, 2011
Available online PDF [119p.] at: http://bit.ly/vFN17B
“………….The world is experiencing a critical and growing shortage of health workers needed to deliver essential health services, particularly in the poorest countries around the globe. This report details the scope of the shortage, examines its complex underlying causes within and across borders, and offers seven recommendations to the United States for using its leadership status to address the problem, while stressing the need for all countries and stakeholders to take action. These recommendations take into account and carefully balance the rights, interests, and obligations of individuals, communities, and governments alike.
The global human resource shortage is certainly much greater than 4.3 million health workers. And the shortage includes more than physicians and nurses—extending to health workers across the spectrum, including pharmacists, dentists, laboratory technicians, emergency medical personnel, public health specialists, health sector management, and administrative staff.
The human resource crisis affects developed and developing countries, but the global poor suffer disproportionately, not only because they have a much smaller workforce but also because their needs are so much greater. Of the 57 countries with critical shortages, 36 are in
These sterile numbers mask the real human tragedy of health personnel shortages. Where there are vastly inadequate numbers of health workers trained and employed, people cannot enjoy the good health that will enable them to flourish. They have fewer opportunities to prevent and treat injuries and diseases or to relieve pain and suffering when they are sick or dying. According to the WHO, in many poor countries, the lack of health workers is a major factor in the deaths of large numbers of individuals who would survive if they had access to health care…..”
Content:
Foreword .
Chapter 1: The Global Health Worker Crisis—Executive Summary
Chapter 2: The Global Shortage of Health Workers
Chapter 3: The Global Health Worker Shortage—Causes .
Chapter 4: Toward a
Chapter 5: US Policy on the Global Human Resource
Shortage—Recommendations for Action
Notes
Bibliography
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