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The
Ministry of Health is committed to improve accessibility and quality of
healthcare in the country through a competent and productive health
workforce. Strengthening of the Human Resources for Health (HRH) in both
public and private sector has been emphasised as one of major activity to be
undertaken in the implementation of the Heath Master Plan (HMP) 2007- 2016.
Sri Lanka’s health sector is facing a
number of human resource challenges that are influencing effective delivery of services. These are
further complicated by the disease burden and demographic transitions.
Although there are the discrepancies between numbers, types, functions,
distribution, and quality of health workers, the Sri Lanka health system over the
years has been performing well when compared to other developing countries.
Strengthening
of the Human Resources for Health (HRH) in both public and private sector has
been emphasised as one of major activity to be undertaken in the
implementation of the Heath Master Plan (HMP) 2007- 2016.
A task
force and a working group were appointed by the Secretary of Health to carry
out this task of developing a strategic plan that would address the issues
affecting HRH. This activity was conducted in collaboration with the World
Health Organisation (WHO). In the process of developing the plan the working
group organised several consultations which included discussions on HRH
issues relevant to decentralization, private sector involvement and HRH in
underserved areas.
The HRH
Strategic Plan is based on a thorough situation analysis, followed by
examination of the scale of the problem and the underlying causes and the
effects on the delivery of health services, Analysis of issues and challenges
in Human resources for Health). Based on the analysis, a draft strategic
framework consisting of guiding principles, vision and mission statements and
a set of strategic objectives were developed. The Strategic Plan was
formulated around 7 interrelated objectives organised around three functional
areas.
The main
document sets out strategies, outcomes and broad activities for 2009 to 2018
to address the human resources problems in the health sector in three
functional areas namely HRH planning, HRH production and HRH management. Most
of the activities will be implemented within the timeframe of national Health
Master Plan (HMP).
The
Strategic objectives spelt out in the Country Cooperation Strategy envisages
to:
 Rationalize the development,
deployment, retention and management of HRH;
Support pre-service(basic) and
continuing education in clinical, public health and service management
competencies;
Strengthen the regulatory
framework to ensure quality of performance of health staff.
It is
planned to enhance the quality in basic education for HRH programmes. There
will be a review of legislation, regulations and licensing of human resources
for health (public and private). In particular, it is planned to augment the
health workforce availability and performance in the North and East and in
remote areas. WHO will work with professional organizations to strengthen
their positive influence in HRH issues.
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