The Sub Regional Conference on the Global Health Workforce Alliance Calls for Evidence Based Strategies to Tackle the Human Resources for Health Crisis

Lusaka, 5 April 2006-- The Sub Regional conference on the Global Health Workforce Alliance and evidence based human resource planning came to a close today with a special appeal that countries should adopt evidence based strategies for tackling the human resources crisis. The conference was organized by the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) and the Global Health Workforce Alliance as a forerunner to the World Health Day commemoration and the global launch of the World Health Report 2006. The World Health Day commemoration will be hosted by the Government of the Republic of Zambia on 7th April 2006.

The objectives of the conference were to give participants an understanding of global trends in Human Resources for Health (HRH), to give policy makers insights into how to translate evidence into practical policies and to present evidence on what works in terms of human resources management and planning.

The conference provided a forum for discussion of global and regional trends in HRH development, presentation of the World Health Report, sharing of country experiences, particularly the Zambian case, and consultation and discussion on the way forward. Challenges and experiences in HR planning were discussed by HRH experts as well as global and regional stakeholders. Roles and responsibilities, best practices and success stories as well as unexpected and unwanted effects of implemented activities were also addressed.

The conference made recommendations that countries should focus on quick wins related to recruitment, adequate remuneration, salary and retirement packages and re-entry where feasible as well as establishment of a new multipurpose cadre especially at district level. Countries were also called upon to optimize resource allocations to the overall health system by working with priority health programmes. The Global Health Workforce Alliance is expected to foster advocacy on human resources for health complemented by evidence, to support countries to elaborate clear HRH strategies and provide technical tools and frameworks. The Alliance was also called upon to ensure that lessons learnt from human resources practices are shared by countries and other stakeholders, to provide support in the harmonization of national health development. The development of human resources plans should be based on prevailing policy, social and economic climate and other international agreements in order to mitigate the migration of health workers.

The 2-day conference brought together international human resources for health experts, policy makers and decision makers, representatives from UN Agencies, international and regional organizations, donor countries, professional associations, foundations and representatives from ministries of health. The countries represented were Australia, Ethiopia, Ireland, Malawi, Namibia, Netherlands, The United Kingdom, The United States of America, Zimbabwe and Zambia.

The conference was officially opened by the Honourable Minister of Health, Ms Sylvia T. Masebo on 4th April 2006. In her official opening address, Ms Masebo underscored the negative impact of the health workforce crisis, especially in developing countries and emphasized the importance of working together in finding sustainable solutions to the crisis.

The Conference sessions were chaired by Professor Francis Omaswa from the Global Health Workforce Alliance and Dr. Lincoln Chen, special adviser for the Director General of WHO.

The World Health Organization selected the theme “Working together for health” to commemorate the World Health Day 2006. The World Health Day 2006 is devoted to the global health workforce crisis and is also intended to celebrate the dignity and value of working for health.

For more information contact:

Nora Mweemba 
Health Information and Promotion Officer
Tel:255322 /255336, 255398 
Cell: 097873976
E-mail: mweemban [at] zm.afro.who.int