Assessment of human resources for health programme implementation in 15 Latin American and Caribbean countries

Abstract

BackgroundThe health systems in the Americas region are characterized by fragmentation and segmentation, which constitute an important barrier to expanding coverage, achieving integrated primary health care, and reducing inefficiency and discontinuity of care.An assessment of the human resources for health (HRH) programmes that have been implemented at the country level was developed as part of the measurement of the 20 HRH regional goals for 2007–2015, adopted in 2007 by the Pan American Sanitary Conference (CSPA).MethodsThe exercise was a combination of academic research and the development/application of an advocacy tool involving policy makers and stakeholders to influence the decision-making in the development, implementation, or change of HRH programmes while building evidence through a structured approach based on qualitative and quantitative information and the exchange and dissemination of best practices.ResultsThis paper covers the methodological challenges, as well as a summary of the main findings of the study, which included 15 countries: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama in the Central America, Dominican Republic in the Caribbean, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru in the Andean sub region, and Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay in the South Cone. Despite the different contexts, the results showed that the programmes evaluated faced common challenges, such as lack of political support and financial unsustainability.ConclusionsThe evaluation process allowed the exchange and dissemination of practices, interventions, and programmes currently running in the region. A shared lesson was the importance of careful planning of the implementation of programmes and interventions. The similarities in the problems and challenges of HRH among the participating countries highlighted the need for a cooperation programme on the evaluation and assessment of implementation strategies in the Americas region.

The Challenge of Universal Eye Health in Latin America: distributive inequality of ophthalmologists in 14 countries

“…[23][24][25][26] While several human resources programmes have been established and implemented at national and regional levels, it has been suggested that additional implementation take place at subnational levels. 27 Furthermore, based on the observation that both ophthalmologists and other physicians tend to make similar choices when choosing work locations, it has been suggested that a review of data regarding overall distribution of physician human resources be undertaken in order to improve the distribution of ophthalmologists. A Finnish study found no significant differences between general practitioners and eye physicians when choosing work locations.…”

Critical Review of Literature on Radiologic Technology Education Program Evaluation

“…The researcher's ultimate goal should be reporting the results to the communities of interest and stake holders. According to Dal Poz et al [26], there is a growing demand for program developers in developing countries to construct and implement programs for the management and planning of human resources in health (HRH). This study demonstrates the importance of reporting evaluation results.…”

“…To begin with, the study was prompted by the identification of the crisis in the global health workforce. This crisis is characterized by a shortage of professionals, (b) supporting decision making in the formulation, implementation, or modification of health policies; and (c) expanding and maintaining a workforce able to support primary health care [26]. The evaluation reflected an effort of both academic research and the development/application of an advocacy tool.…”

“…The evaluation reflected an effort of both academic research and the development/application of an advocacy tool. The evaluation process itself represented the challenges the two organizations faced, as well as allowed for the exchange and dissemination of practices, interventions, and programs currently available in the region [26]. The program evaluation that was produced and ultimately reported to the public provided insight as a shared lesson reflective of the importance of careful planning of the implementation of programs and interventions [26].…”

“…The evaluation process itself represented the challenges the two organizations faced, as well as allowed for the exchange and dissemination of practices, interventions, and programs currently available in the region [26]. The program evaluation that was produced and ultimately reported to the public provided insight as a shared lesson reflective of the importance of careful planning of the implementation of programs and interventions [26]. Program evaluations performed at this level demonstrate the importance of being able to not only assess the resources, but also the importance of identifying resources and reporting evaluation methods.…”