WHO teams up again with KIT to deal with health workforce crisis

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The World Health Organization (WHO) has redesignated the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) in Amsterdam as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Research, Training and Development of Human Resources for Health. The redesignation is for another period of four years.

KIT provides advice, training and research on issues such as capacity development, workforce migration, retention and motivation, and other strategic aspects of human resource management and planning in low and middle income countries.

Crisis in health workforce
Improving healthcare is crucial to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Combating tuberculosis, aids and malaria, reducing infant mortality and the number of mothers dying in childbirth have been earmarked as separate goals. Sufficient numbers of qualified and motivated staff are paramount to achieve these goals. However, reality shows quite another picture. As a result, healthcare standards are under enormous pressure.

WHO and KIT
WHO has set up an international network of collaborating centres on human resources for health that cooperate in dealing with the challenges of the workforce crisis. KIT is part of this network since 2007.
Dr Marjolein Dieleman of KIT's department of Development Policy & Practice: ‘We are delighted to continue the collaboration with WHO. KIT has a wealth of experience in strategic planning and policy development of the health workforce in low and middle income countries. We do research, train policy makers, planners and managers and develop practical policy tools. We assist both the government and the private sector in developing and implementing human resource for health plans. We know how to bring all the important players on board; ministries, civil society organizations as well as professional parties associated with a health profession. KIT provides support and training to healthcare managers at the national and regional level in formulating and implementing human resource management.’

WHO works at global, regional and country level to improve access to skilled health workers. The organization currently estimates that 57 low and middle income countries face a critical shortage of health workers. Key activities to address this shortage include strengthening human resources for health (HRH), governance capacities, HRH policy and planning processes, HRH information systems, etc.

Results of collaboration
Recent projects of KIT as a WHO Collaborating Centre include:
- A conference on responsible governance for improved human resources for health: Making the right choices, in March 2010 at the Royal Tropical Institute in Amsterdam, jointly organized by KIT, Cordaid, International Council of Nurses and WHO;
- Publication of Realist review and synthesis of retention studies for health workers in rural and remote areas, a joint review on research to retain health workers in rural and remote areas;
- A workshop for policy makers for Ministries of Health and representatives of research institutes from nine countries in South-Eastern Europe on retention of the health workforce in this area;
- Participation in the core group of experts to develop global policy recommendations to attract and retain health workers in rural and remote areas;
- A tracking survey to understand and monitor the progress in developing and implementing HRH policies in 57 countries experiencing a critical deficit in the health workforce.

Future collaboration plans with the WHO include strengthening governance of health workforce, planning and policy development, a policy brief for retention in South-Eastern Europe and implement joint training activities on strategic planning and management for policy makers, planners and managers.

Royal Tropical Institute (KIT)
The Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) in Amsterdam is an independent centre of knowledge and expertise in the areas of international and intercultural cooperation. The Institute aims to contribute to sustainable development, poverty alleviation, and cultural preservation and exchange. Within the Netherlands and abroad, it seeks to promote interest in and support for these issues.

Editor's note

For more information or interview requests, please contact Mr Chang Wong, Corporate Communication, Hospitality & Facilities, Royal Tropical Institute (KIT).
T: +31 20 568 82 96
E: c.wong@kit.nl