Human Resources Development (Hrd) Policy For The Public Health Sector

Health indicators for Malawi have generally remained poor over the years. There is a strong consensus amongst stakeholders that human resources pose the major immediate challenge to improving quality and coverage of health care especially in the public health sector. The HIV/AIDS pandemic coupled with the high incidence of local and international migration affecting almost all categories of health workers has far outstripped the numbers entering the public health sector. As a result, the efficient and effective delivery of quality health services is greatly affected.

The Ministry of Health recognizes that its success, as well as that of its partners, in the efficient and effective delivery of quality public health care services largely depends on having adequate numbers of professional health workers and support staff, across all cadres, equipped with the requisite competences (skills, knowledge and 8 attitude), to deliver health care services at all levels.

The rapid changes that are taking place in the local social economic, cultural, and political environment as well as current reforms in the public health sector and global changes in technology means that public health workers and
support staff are continuously faced with situations that require new learning.