Events

Mozambique responds to its health workforce crisis

During a special ceremony, the Minister of Health presented to its partners a comprehensive and costed health human resources development plan 2008-2015 with the aim of mobilizing support and funds to achieve the implementation of the plan.

The Minister of Health of Mozambique and the Director of Human Resources (2nd and 1st from R) with WHO staff at the launch.

Mozambique is facing a critical shortage of health workers with just 1.26 health workers per 1000 population, less then 900 doctors and around 4,300 nurses for a population of 20 million people. Further progress towards the millennium development goals is not possible without a massive scale up of the workforce.

The plan sets out a strategic framework for scaling up the workforce, which includes training more health workers and training them better, as well as expanding the network of training institutions and ensuring sufficient and qualified tutors. The plan, if fully funded, foresees the production and employment of an additional 20,000 health workers by 2015 and an increase of the number of doctors by over 100%, nurses by 68% and skilled birth attendants by 68%. Revitalization of the community health workers program is part of the national response. The plan also includes strengthening human resources management as well as improving workers' performance through adequate remuneration and providing a safe environment for both staff and patients. 

At the event several development partners pledged their commitment to support the implementation of the plan.

Related links

 Human resources development plan 2008-2015: summary booklet in English (1.09 MB)

 Human resources development plan 2008-2015: summary booklet in Portuguese (1.1 MB)