The paradoxical surplus of health workers in Africa: The need for research and policy engagement.
health-worker unemployment
informality
labour market
paradoxical surplus
Journal
The International journal of health planning and management
ISSN: 1099-1751
Titre abrégé: Int J Health Plann Manage
Pays: England
ID NLM: 8605825
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
09 Jan 2024
09 Jan 2024
Historique:
revised:
07
12
2023
received:
22
11
2023
accepted:
11
12
2023
medline:
9
1
2024
pubmed:
9
1
2024
entrez:
9
1
2024
Statut:
aheadofprint
Résumé
In many countries in Africa, there is a 'paradoxical surplus' of under and unemployed nurses, midwives, doctors and pharmacists which exists amidst a shortage of staff within the formal health system. By 2030, the World Health Organisation Africa Region may find itself with a shortage of 6.1 million health workers alongside 700,000 un- or underemployed health staff. The emphasis in policy debates about human resources for health at most national and global levels is on staff shortage and the need to train more health workers. In contrast, these 'surplus' health workers are both understudied and underacknowledged. Little time is given over to understand the economic, political and social factors that have driven their emergence; the ways in which they seek to make a living; the governance challenges that they raise; nor potential interventions that could be implemented to improve employment rates and leverage their expertise. This short communication reflects on current research findings and calls for improved quantitative and qualitative research to support policy engagement at national, regional and global levels.
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Subventions
Organisme : Medical Research Council
ID : MR/R00370X/1
Pays : United Kingdom
Organisme : Medical Research Council
ID : MR/V035592/1
Pays : United Kingdom
Organisme : Medical Research Council
ID : MR/T023589/1
Pays : United Kingdom
Organisme : Medical Research Council
ID : MR/X503010/1
Pays : United Kingdom
Organisme : Medical Research Council
ID : MR/N003810/1
Pays : United Kingdom
Informations de copyright
© 2024 The Authors. The International Journal of Health Planning and Management published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
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