ADDRESSING THE HEALTH WORKFORCE CRISIS IN TANZANIA

1. A PRESENTATION FOR THE SECOND STOP TB PARTNERS’ FORUM: NEW DELHI 24 –26 MARCH 2004 ADDRESSING THE HEALTH WORKFORCE CRISIS IN TANZANIA NTLP - MOH

2. Shortage of qualified personnel at central, district and lower levels of the health system Attrition of staff – Ageing, death, internal and external brain drain Shortage o f staff with particular skills such laboratory personnel at district level One third of posts are vacant Insufficient analysis of staff needs and subsequent long term strategic plans to fill requirements Problems related to overall availability NTLP - MOH

3. Improper skills mix, low productivity, low motivation / morale and mal-distribution Increased demand for health workers to deal with communicable and non-communicable diseases including TB, HIV/AIDS and Malaria Inadequate knowledge of TB/HIV control strategies among the health workers Ineffective supportive supervision to roll out best practices Updating curricula of medical and paramedical schools to deal with TB, HIV/AIDS, malaria etc. Coordination of stakeholders involved in recruitment and deployment of health workers Problems related to quality NTLP - MOH

4. Updating training curricula to accommodate changing needs Address skills requirements to control diseases such TB, HIV/AIDS and malaria Improve working conditions and motivation for workers Multi-sectoral approach to streamline coordination of health workers Raise priority of the human resource agenda including financing within stakeholders Create data base on critical human requirements for control of diseases including TB Way forward NTLP - MOH