Training of health workers, including those based in communities where access to services is limited, is urgently needed to address the Asia-Pacific region's growing health workforce gap, industry leaders say.
The global shortage of health workers could reach more than 10 million by 2030, according to a departmental update from the WHO Western Pacific Region, which highlights the importance of “lifelong learning” health workers and the sharing of scientific knowledge in health matters.
Pacific countries are particularly affected by the shortage due to their high population density and greater impacts from climate-related disasters, and because many health workers go abroad in search of better opportunities.
Saia Ma'u Piukala, WHO regional director for the Western Pacific, said countries in the region were working together to improve education and training and achieve a more equitable distribution of health professionals.
He said there was an urgent need to “work with academic institutions to develop and implement training programs” to meet the changing needs of the healthcare sector.
In countries like the Philippines and Pacific island states like Fiji, Micronesia and the Cook Islands, shortages severely limit access to quality health services, compounded by lack of training opportunities for future healthcare workers. health, members of a Philippine-led health system. collaborative declared during a
The Philippines has become the world's largest exporter of nurses, accounting for 25 percent of all foreign nurses worldwide.
According to WHO estimates, more than half of the country's registered nurses have left the country to work abroad, leading to a national shortage of 127,000 health workers. Many are attracted by better salaries abroad. In countries like the United States, for example, Filipino nurses can earn 15 times more than those working in the Philippines.
Retention Strategies
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Philippines imposed restrictions on the travel of health workers abroad, a move that was sharply criticized by the country's health unions.
Instead, unions have suggested measures such as wage increases, rapid provision of benefits and filling vacant government positions in order to improve employment, local working conditions and encourage workers to stay.
Another strategy implemented by the Philippines is to integrate community health workers at the village or barangay level. The country is hiring large networks of community health workers to provide services to underserved populations, particularly in remote areas, according to an analysis released this month. It says community health workers contribute to family planning, mental health education and substance abuse prevention.
However, even though barangay health workers have become an important part of the country's health system, they do not have a fixed salary as they are considered volunteers and are only entitled to a limited government stipend.
“To be effective, they need supervision by qualified health workers, as well as compensation, strong training and career development pathways,” said Sara Bennett, professor and vice president from the Department of International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public, based in the United States. Health.
“They are part of the solution, but not the complete solution,” she added.
