One Piece of the Puzzle to Solve the Human Resources for Health Crisis
This special theme issue of the Bulletin of the World Health Organization focuses on retention of health workers in rural and remote areas. Globally, half of the population lives in rural areas but they are only served by less than a quarter of all doctors and less than a third of all nurses. Therefore, providing people in rural areas with access to well trained health workers is a global challenge. It is critically important to succeed in this, particularly in the 57 low- and middle-income countries that are already plagued with critical shortages of health workers.
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Health workforce issues and recommended practices in the implementation of Universal Health Coverage in the Philippines: a qualitative study.
The Philippines' Universal Health Coverage program faces a critical workforce crisis that threatens its very foundation. A new Ateneo de Manila University study reveals that while the country exports healthcare workers globally, it struggles to retain the professionals needed for its own ambitious health reforms. With only 7.92 physicians per 10,000 population and a shortage of 127,000 nurses, systemic barriers—from restrictive hiring policies to uncompetitive salaries—are driving away the very people meant to deliver healthcare for all Filipinos. The research identifies promising solutions, including scholarship programs and comprehensive benefits, but warns that without addressing these fundamental workforce issues, universal healthcare remains at risk.
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Measuring and Understanding Geographic Inequities in Physician Distribution in the Philippines
Access to quality health care in the Philippines is shaped not only by the availability of physicians, but also by how equitably they are distributed across regions. Many communities, particularly in rural and geographically isolated areas, continue to face limited access to medical professionals, while urban centers often see a concentration of physicians and specialists. The project Measuring and Understanding Geographic Inequities in Physician Distribution in the Philippines seeks to address this challenge by providing a clear, evidence-based picture of physician maldistribution nationwide.