Fourth Regional Consultation on the Health Workforce: Meeting the Need for Universal Health Coverage in the African Region

Brazzaville, Republic of Congo 2 - 4 December 2013

Opening remark of Dr Luis G. Sambo, Regional Director

- Distinguished senior Representatives of Ministries of Health, Education, Finance and Employment;

- Distinguished Representatives of Faculties of Medicine, Training institutions for Health sciences, Public Health Schools, Public Health Associations, National Medical Associations, Regulatory bodies and Research Institutions;

- Distinguished Experts,

- Dear Colleagues, Directors and WHO staff members

First of all, let me welcome you all to Brazzaville at the occasion of the 4th Regional Consultation on the health workforce.

The present consultation follows the endorsement of the “Road map for Scaling up Human Resources for Health for improved health service delivery in the African region 2012-2025” adopted by the African Ministers of Health during the 62nd Regional Committee (RC62) held in Luanda in 2012.  It is indeed an eloquent indication of the way Governments should act to address the human resources for health crisis which is hitting our countries.

We have been able to submit this road map in due time as a result of your invaluable contributions on the initial draft discussed during the 3rd consultation held in Pretoria, South Africa. I recognize several of you present here today.

Once again I wish to sincerely thank you for this hard work, still in progress.

Distinguished participants,

Ladies and gentlemen,

The shortfall of the Health Work Force can hamper Government efforts towards Universal health coverage (UHC).  Yet the challenge will persist if we are not able to translate the road map into concrete actions at country level using appropriate solutions on the right scale.

UHC aims at ensuring that all people have access to quality health care without experiencing financial hardship. This is where the human resources role is crucial for both coverage and quality of care.

The current consultation has been initiated to thoroughly reflect on concrete ways and means to operationalize the HRH road map in the context of backing UHC initiatives in countries of the African Region.

Distinguished Experts and Participants, 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

You have drafted the “Roadmap for scaling up human resources for health for improved health service delivery in the African region 2012-2025” that was adopted by the Ministers of Health during the 62nd session of the Regional Committee.  Now I am seeking again your views on how best to advise the Governments on its implementation.  The Road map contains six major thrusts, each with its priority interventions. The thrusts refer to: leadership and governance capacity; regulatory capacity; scaling up education and training; optimizing the utilization, retention and performance of the active health workforce; evidence for decision-making; and strengthening dialogue and partnerships.

The Ministries of Health should take the lead and intensify the collaboration with other key ministries such as education, finance, labour and employment, the private sector and various stakeholders such as universities, trade unions, professional associations;  to optimize synergies and prevent fragmentation.

Such mechanisms should allow the development of common definitions and approaches for policy dialogue and actions.

We are getting close to 2015 – the horizon for MDGs 4, 5 and 6. The progress in Africa has been slow towards the achievement of targets and goals related to under five mortality rate, maternal mortality ratio and reduction of communicable diseases burden.

In the coming years, african health systems have to cope with the unfinished business while addressing new public health problems  which derives from climate, demographic, socio economic and epidemiological changes.

Distinguished Experts and Participants, 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The endeavours of improved access, quality and coverage in health care presupposes the creation of solid human resources capacityin countries. Some countries are showing positive signals in increasing the number of medical schools and considering salary improvements. But we need to know: what is the effective response of countries in relation to the adopted HRH road map?  How many countries established national HRH roadmaps? What type of bottlenecks are they facing? Is the HRH roadmap part of their health sector reforms?  Which mechanisms could be established to monitor the implementation of the African region HRH roadmap?

Your analysis and discussions will constitute valuable inputs to the operational framework which is expected to be generated during this meeting to inspire relevant action at country level.

WHO does not intend to replace the fundamental role of Governments, but rather advocate for health policies and advise on investments designed to boost the capacity of national health services for enhanced performance and improved health outcomes.

I look forward to your valuable contributions in the next three days.

I thank you.