Human resources and health

Human resources in the health sector shortages are increasingly identified as key bottleneck preventing the scale up of HIV/AIDS services, especially in resource-constrained countries with generalized epidemics. Moreover, even when there is no shortage, the issues of inadequate competencies related to HIV/AIDS prevails among health care workers, which negatively impacts on the effectiveness and quality of services for the people and communities in need. Similarly the aspects of managing occupational exposure to HIV and TB requires attention.

The WHO HIV/AIDS Department focuses on these health workforce issues that impede the scale up of HIV services towards the universal access goal. It deals with the elaboration and reviewing of policies and strategies, the formulation of innovative conceptual approaches and tools for health workforce planning and the development of HIV/AIDS services and facilitates, as well as their integration into existing health systems. It also supports capacity building - targeting providers and managers in the Member States - and promotes exchange with other human resources and health stakeholders and partners at all levels, within and beyond WHO.