Closed civil society session: “How can civil society spur action on ensuring health workers for all?” Wednesday 15 November 2017, 6.30-8.30 PM
Civil society plays key roles in pushing for new programmes, policies or strategies on human resources for health; in holding governments and other stakeholders to account on their commitments; in identifying the lack of joined-up government responses to human resources for health; and in ensuring that national policy making does not forget the poor and vulnerable.
However, limited fiscal space and budgetary restrictions are still a major bottleneck in the absorption of health workers in the public health sector in low and middle-income countries and, hence, hamper the achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and global health security. Also, human resources for health are generally still considered a national responsibility, although health workforce mobility and migration will likely increase in the years to come.
At all levels we need leadership from those that are responsible for and involved in governance to assure the best use of resources for health. As civil society, we more than ever need to address these issues and revive our advocacy responses to ensure an adequate, fit for purpose and sustainable workforce that addresses current and future needs for all. What are current gaps and what could be our role as civil society to spur action in solving these gaps?
Complementary to the work of civil society addressing local and global health workforce issues, we would need again to strategize, generate and share knowledge and information, and create synergies for the development of joint positions and activities.
Conclusion and perspectives
The session provided an opportunity to step up in civil society efforts and discuss potential advocacy responses in line with the Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030 and the five-year action plan that followed from the UN High-Level Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth’s report in 2017.
The civil society present in the meeting concluded to initiate the launch of a civil society hub to the Global Health Workers Network (GHWN).
Contact
Linda Mans, linda.mans@wemos.nl / Tel: +31 20 435 20 50
Session organized by ACHEST, MMI HRH, MSF, Wemos
The Fourth Global Forum on Human Resources for Health
“Last year brought forward a wave of exciting opportunities to markedly change the global health workforce situation. The Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030 and the UN High-Level Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth’s report, Working for Health and Growth present a vital road map to ensure an adequate, fit for purpose and sustainable workforce to address current and future needs. Together, they make the case for more and better investments, with strengthened engagement across education, employment, finance, health and labour sectors fundamental.
The Fourth Global Forum on Human Resources for Health provides a key opportunity for all stakeholders to discuss and debate innovative approaches towards advancing the implementation of the Global Strategy and the Commission’s recommendations, and show a collective commitment to developing and making available the workforce required to deliver the SDGs.
The Forum is co-hosted by Trinity College Dublin, Irish Aid, the Irish Department of Health and Health Service Executive, the Global Health Workforce Network and the World Health Organization. We invite you to join us in Dublin in November 2017 to collectively help shape our future health workforce.”
Forum website: http://hrhforum2017.ie/
Follow on Twitter: #HRHForum2017