WHO global recommendations for the retention of health workers
The WHO resolutions on migration (WHA57.19) and rapid scaling up of health workers (WHA59.23) request Member States to put in place mechanisms which aim to improve the retention of health workers. Very recently, the Kampala Declaration, called on governments to "assure adequate incentives and an enabling and safe working environment for effective retention and equitable distribution of the health workforce".
It is against this background that WHO has embarked upon a process to develop evidence-based recommendations which will advise countries on addressing the critical issues of retention and equitable distribution of health workers.
The eventual WHO recommendations will be informed by research and analyses of evidence on existing interventions, by a series of country case studies and by consultations with experts and stakeholders regarding the effectiveness of strategies to improve retention.
Consultations for developing the recommendations
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4th meeting of the WHO expert group on Increasing access to health workers in remote and rural areas through improved retention
4-5 February 2010 -
3rd meeting of the WHO expert group on Increasing access to health workers in remote and rural areas through improved retention
23-26 November 2009 -
Second core expert group meeting on Increasing access to health workers in remote and rural areas through improved retention
20-21 October 2009 -
2nd meeting of the WHO expert group on Increasing access to health workers in remote and rural areas through improved retention
29 June-1 July 2009 -
First core expert consultation on Increasing access to health workers in remote and rural areas through improved retention
6–7 April 2009 -
First meeting of the WHO expert group - Launch of WHO programme on Increasing access to health workers in remote and rural areas through improved retention
2–4 February 2009
Special theme issue of the WHO Bulletin
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Health workforce retention in remote and rural areas: call for papers
This call for papers for the WHO Bulletin theme issue on health workforce retention in remote and rural areas is now closed. - WHO Bulletin web site.
Background paper
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Background paper: Increasing access to health workers in remote and rural areas through improved retention
pdf, 319kb -
Appendices
pdf, 157kb
This paper provides an initial review of the current evidence with regards to retention of health workers in remote and rural areas. It was prepared for the launch of the programme at the first meeting of the Expert Group that is tasked with developing evidence based global recommendations on "increasing access to health workers in remote and rural areas through improved retention". It will continue to guide the ongoing consultative process.