Health systems

Human resources for health

The performance of health systems depends on the knowledge, skills, motivation and deployment of the people responsible for organizing and delivering services. Human resources—which include all clinical staff like doctors, dentists and nurses and health system staff such as managers, drivers and accountants—also represent the biggest single recurring cost for a health system.

WHO

Skilled health workers are unable to deliver services effectively without appropriate physical capital – facilities and equipment – and consumables such as medicines. Thus health system budgets need balance among these three vital exigencies – human resources, physical capital and consumables. In many countries, two-thirds or more of the regular health budget reflects labour costs. In the face of limited resources many countries are left with insufficient funds for equipment, drugs and supplies.

Many developing countries face a severe shortage of health workers. It is estimated that Africa alone is short one million workers. Another three million are needed elsewhere in the world. Many countries also have problems distributing health workers appropriately to meet the needs of people across the country. In that setting progress towards universal access to health care can be made through more efficient deployment of the health workforce.

International migration from poor to more wealthy countries is a significant contributor to the overall shortage of health staff in poor countries. Addressing shortages and inequitable distribution—so that the right health personnel will be in the right place at the right time—is a global health priority.

Workforce Helpful resources

Human resources for health

Migration

Global Fund Round 10 on health systems strenghtening

Contact us

healthsystems@who.int