Policy levers to enhance health workforce performance for compassionate and respectful care

Overview

The progressive realization of universal health coverage (UHC) requires not only that health services be available and accessible but also that they be rendered to the population in a compassionate and respectful manner, according to quality standards, and that they be acceptable to people. Health workers’ knowledge, skills and attitudes play a central role in the provision of compassionate and respectful care (CRC). But health workers’ behaviour in turn is influenced by the work environment, the health labour market and the employment conditions in which they operate, as well as other determinants of health workforce availability, motivation and performance. Identifying relevant policy levers to enhance CRC must therefore include actions that enable health workers both to enjoy their rights and to fulfil their roles and responsibilities.