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Strengthening and Supporting the Health Workforce
Dr. Mphu Ramatlapeng
Minister of Health, Lesotho
3 February 2012
Retention and the Lesotho Nursing Initiative
2 • Strengthening and Supporting the Health Workforce • 3 February 2012
Presentation Outline
• Introduction
• Brain Drain out of Sub-Saharan Africa
• Push-Pull Factors
• MOHSW-Irish Aid-Clinton Foundation Partnership
• Challenges
• Conclusion
3 • Strengthening and Supporting the Health Workforce • 3 February 2012
Introduction
Sub-Saharan Africa:
• The region is faced with high burden of communicable and non communicable diseases ( HIV and AIDs, Malaria, TB, Cancers and Diabetes)
• Most of the countries in the region experience high demands of health care services due to the high demand of health care
• However the supply of health professionals is low ( Doctors, Nurses pharmacists and others)
• Efforts are being applied in the region to address the above mentioned challenges
4 • Strengthening and Supporting the Health Workforce • 3 February 2012
The “brain drain” of health care professionals out of sub-Saharan Africa has significant implications
• A significant number of African-born health care professionals move abroad
o ~65,000 African-born physicians and ~70,000 African-born nurses working overseas
• A published BMJ article (Nov 2011) shows that lost investment from the emigration of physicians is significant
− African-born physicians working abroad educated by Africa at a cost of over $2B USD
− UK benefit: $2.7B USD
− US benefit: $846M USD
Source: BMJ 2011;343:d7031 “The financial cost of doctors emigrating from sub-Saharan Africa: human capital analysis”; AAU 2007 “Optimizing the African Brain Drain: Strategies for Mobilizing the Intellectual Diaspora towards Brain-Gain”
5 • Strengthening and Supporting the Health Workforce • 3 February 2012
This loss of local talent is due to a variety of “push” and “pull” factors that can be social, economical, or political
Push Factors Pull Factors
• Lack/limited jobs
• Unsatisfactory pay
• Limited opportunities for professional development
• Poor social conditions
• Political instability
• Better jobs
• Higher pay
• Greater opportunities for professional development
• High quality of life
• Political stability
6 • Strengthening and Supporting the Health Workforce • 3 February 2012
Lesotho initiatives in addressing brain drain (1 / 2)
Improvement of Infrastructure:
• Refurbishment and construction of the health facilities and staff housing apartments
• Provision of requisite equipment for all health facilities
• Upgrading of the MOHSW communication systems (networks)
Other Development strategies:
• The country developed the health work force retention strategy and currently some components of the strategy are being implemented (e.g personal development, financial incentives) in collaboration with partners
7 • Strengthening and Supporting the Health Workforce • 3 February 2012
Lesotho initiatives in addressing brain drain (2 / 2)
Other Development Strategies:
• Health Systems Strengthening e.g the continuing education strategy was developed and its implementation commenced in March 2010
• Launching of the Nurse Education Partnership Initiative (NEPI) initiative to capacitate the nursing institutions
• Family medicine residency program is being run to train young Basotho as specialists in family medicine
• Establishment of wellness centers to cater for the health of workforce
8 • Strengthening and Supporting the Health Workforce • 3 February 2012
Challenges
• Attrition of health care professionals continues to be high
• Production of Health professionals by academic institutions is still low
• Demand for health care continues to grow due to the increasing disease burden
• Attainment of MDGs targets in accordance with the schedule
9 • Strengthening and Supporting the Health Workforce • 3 February 2012
Conclusion
• The support from different partners played a significant role in improving the health status of all the citizens of Lesotho
• The Government will keep accelerating the initiatives which are meant to address HR problems
10 • Strengthening and Supporting the Health Workforce • 3 February 2012
Thank You