PHA-Exch> New publication: Guidelines on incentives for health professionals

["Claudio Schuftan" <cschuftan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

From: Vern Weitzel <vern.weitzel@xxxxxxxxx>
crossposted from: "[health-vn discussion group]" <health-vn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

From: Neil Pakenham-Walsh, UK <neil.pakenham-walsh@xxxxxxxxxxx>

GUIDELINES ON INCENTIVES FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
International Council of Nurses, International Hospital Federation,
International Pharmaceutical Federation, World Confederation for Physical
Therapy, World Dental Federation, World Medical Association,  May 2008

Commissioned by the Global Health Workforce Alliance (GHWA)

English PDF (44p.) [1.2 Mb] at:
http://www.who.int/workforcealliance/documents/Incentives_Guidelines%20EN.pdf


"….The world's leading health and hospital professional associations have
joined to produce the first-ever joint guidelines on incentives for the
retention and recruitment of health professionals. Commissioned by GHWA as
part of its work to identify and implement solutions to the health
workforce crisis, the Guidelines on Incentives for Health Professionals is
the combined result of collaboration.

"…..The report underlines how incentives are important levers that
organizations can use to attract, retain, motivate and improve the
performance of their staff in all professions and walks of life, This is
especially and urgently needed in the health care sector, it states, where
the growing gap between the supply of health care professionals and the
demand for their services is reaching crisis levels in many countries. The
'Incentives' guidelines offer practical solutions that can make a
difference. Professional associations will implement the guidelines by
using the research to support claims and raise awareness of all
stakeholders including patients.

The serious shortage of health workers across the world has been
identified as one of the most critical constraints to the achievement of
health and development goals. The 2006 World Health Report estimated a
global shortage of 4.3 million health workers, including 2.4 million
physicians, nurses and midwives. Translated into access to care, the
shortage means that over a billion people have no access to heath care
professionals. …"

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive summary
Introduction
A typology of incentives in health care
Financial incentives
Wages and conditions
Performance-linked payments
Other financial incentives
Non-financial incentives
Career and professional development
Workload management
Flexible working arrangements
Positive working environments
Access to benefits and supports
What does an effective incentive scheme look like?
Developing an incentive package
Conclusion
Appendix
References