Saha Naseri, Merette Khalil, Sala Sabrah, Muhammad Homayoon Manochehr, Lakhwinder Singh Sidhu, Ahmad Rasekh, Mohammad Abi, Najibullah Safi
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引用次数: 1
Abstract
Background: Despite large-scale investment in health service delivery outsourcing, few studies have examined human resources for health (HRH) in Afghanistan.
Aims: To review the HRH situation of outsourced healthcare services in Afghanistan and evaluate nongovernment organization (NGO) investments in the health workforce.
Methods: Two questionnaires were used for data collection. One gathered information about the characteristics of HRH in 2020 and the other collected budgetary data for 2017-2020 to analyse budget allocation and expenditure by NGOs on the health workforce.
Results: A total of 25 262 (65% male, 35% female) individuals were employed by NGOs in 31 provinces of Afghanistan. There was a critical shortage of personnel and a prevalence of gender imbalance across all provinces. Healthcare workers were mostly aged 26 to 30 years. Services were mostly provided by local NGOs and their scopes were not limited to outsourced projects. More than 75% of the budget of NGOs was allocated to the health workforce in 2017-2020, and more than 70% of allocations was spent on staff salaries, followed by other health workforce expenditure. Less than 5% was spent on capacity building.
Conclusion: There is a gross shortage and large gender imbalance in the Afghanistan health workforce. It is essential to maintain and increase current financial and technical investments to ensure sustainability and enhance the fragile health system in Afghanistan.
期刊介绍：
The Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, established in 1995, is the flagship health periodical of the World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean.
The mission of the Journal is to contribute to improving health in the Eastern Mediterranean Region by publishing and publicising quality health research and information with emphasis on public health and the strategic health priorities of the Region. It aims to: further public health knowledge, policy, practice and education; support health policy-makers, researchers and practitioners; and enable health professionals to remain informed of developments in public health.
The EMHJ:
-publishes original peer-reviewed research and reviews in all areas of public health of relevance to the Eastern Mediterranean Region
-encourages, in particular, research related to the regional health priorities, namely: health systems strengthening; emergency preparedness and response; communicable diseases; noncommunicable diseases and mental health; reproductive, maternal, child health and nutrition
-provides up-to-date information on public health developments with special reference to the Region.
The Journal addresses all members of the health profession, health educational institutes, as well as governmental and nongovernmental organizations in the area of public health within and outside the Region.
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