Overcoming the Crisis: Taking the Abuja Action Agenda Forward
Hosted by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) in February 2005, this HRH consultation was the next step in implementing the Abuja action plan. The meeting, which gathered over 100 participants, intended to elaborate country action plans and country action alliances; discuss how these action plans can be supported through further work in areas such as fiscal space, technical excellence, education, and training; and develop a common platform to support national and global action in addressing the HRH crisis. Meeting participants issued a call to action; some key points are summarized below.
• Country Action
o Medium- to long-term health workforce frameworks – national strategies for HRH -- should be linked to national health planning and other development frameworks;
o Preparation of such plans require both high-level leadership and support of broad based alliance, including key government actors, civil society, academia and development partners;
o National strategies should not only focus on doctors and nurses and should also give attention to lessons learned from past experience, clear definition of objectives, and inclusion of accountability mechanism;
o Addressing HRH must take place within a broader public sector reform.
• Financing Strategies
o Careful consideration of the medium-term fiscal implications of national strategies is essential and should be country specific. Active support from ministries of finance and IFIs is necessary to secure levels of investment;
o Significant new financing is required for national programs;
o Financial assistance is also needed for technical assistance;
o Financial incentives to retain workers and address migration will not be sufficient; governments should consult with health workers to identify and address their primary concerns to develop non-financial incentives.
Finally, the consultation concluded with the need for a global platform for action, which would acknowledge collective responsibility for action and build links between all actors. The platform would be based on a clear set of agreements, objectives, and targets.
For more information, see www.norad.no/default.asp?V_ITEM_ID=3011
