Advancing the Population Needs-Based Health Workforce Planning Methodology: A Simulation Tool for Country Application

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

JamesAvoka Asamani¹  GerdaMarie Reitsma²  ChristmalDela Christmals² 

[1] Centre for Health Professions Education, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Building PC-G16, Office 101,11 Hoffman St., Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa;Intercountry Support Team for Eastern and Southern Africa, Health Workforce Unit, Regional Office for Africa, World Health Organisation, 82-86 Cnr Enterprise/Glenara Roads, Harare CY 348, Zimbabwe;

关键词: population health needs;    needs-based health workforce;    health workforce planning;    health service planning;    human resources for health;    workforce modelling;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijerph18042113

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Although the conceptual underpinnings of needs-based health workforce planning have developed over the last two decades, lingering gaps in empirical models and lack of open access tools have partly constrained its uptake in health workforce planning processes in countries. This paper presents an advanced empirical framework for the need-based approach to health workforce planning with an open-access simulation tool in Microsoft^® Excel to facilitate real-life health workforce planning in countries. Two fundamental mathematical models are used to quantify the supply of, and need for, health professionals, respectively. The supply-side model is based on a stock-and-flow process, and the need-side model extents a previously published analytical frameworks using the population health needs-based approach. We integrate the supply and need analyses by comparing them to establish the gaps in both absolute and relative terms, and then explore their cost implications for health workforce policy and strategy. To illustrate its use, the model was used to simulate a real-life example using midwives and obstetricians/gynaecologists in the context of maternal and new-born care in Ghana. Sensitivity analysis showed that if a constant level of health was assumed (as in previous works), the need for health professionals could have been underestimated in the long-term. Towards universal health coverage, the findings reveal a need to adopt the need-based approach for HWF planning and to adjust HWF supply in line with population health needs.

【 授权许可】

Unknown