Abstract
Introduction: Health human resources estimation and planning in the country require analyzing the relationship between socio-demographic and epidemiological aspects of the population, as well as the supply of health services in different territories.Objective: To analyze the number, distribution and pertinence of pediatricians in Colombia.Materials and methods: Cross-sectional study. Data obtained from different sources were aggregated and refined to obtain a single base that allowed conducting an analysis of the number and distribution of pediatricians in Colombia and, in this way, make an approximation of the census of Colombian pediatricians.Results: By 2017, there were 3 398 pediatricians in Colombia. Most pediatricians worked in Bogotá D.C. and in the departments of Antioquia and Valle del Cauca. In contrast, in the departments of Vichada and Vaupés, there were no pediatricians and this service was not available.Conclusion: The distribution of pediatricians in Colombia depends more on the dynamics of healthcare service providers than on the health care needs of children in the different regions of the country. Therefore, the implementation of new policies aiming at achieving a better distribution of the available resources is required to strengthen local authorities and to regulate the provision of pediatric care services throughout the country according to the multiple health needs of each region.
Highlights
Health human resources estimation and planning in the country require analyzing the relationship between socio-demographic and epidemiological aspects of the population and the supply of health services in different territories
The implementation of new policies aiming at achieving a better distribution of the available resources is required to strengthen local authorities and to regulate the provision of pediatric care services throughout the country according to the multiple health needs of each region
Health workforce is the central axis of health systems, and aspects such as guaranteeing the right to health, improving the resilience of the population, and increasing people’ lifespan depend on the availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality of health human resources; as stated by the World Health Organization (WHO): “Health systems can only function with health workers; improving health service coverage and realizing the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is dependent on their availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality”.1,p10 there is no agreement on what sufficient availability of health workforce means or on the main regulatory aspects regarding the number, distribution, pertinence and quality of healthcare personnel.[2,5]
Summary
Health human resources estimation and planning in the country require analyzing the relationship between socio-demographic and epidemiological aspects of the population and the supply of health services in different territories. Conclusion: The distribution of pediatricians in Colombia depends more on the dynamics of healthcare service providers than on the health care needs of children in the different regions of the country. The World Health Organization (WHO) has acknowledged the shortage of health workforce around the world.[1] In Colombia, several studies on this topic, based on different estimation methodologies, have been carried out, concluding that there is a deficit of physicians, specialists.[2,3,4] Without a doubt, health workforce is the central axis of health systems, and aspects such as guaranteeing the right to health, improving the resilience of the population, and increasing people’ lifespan depend on the availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality of health human resources; as stated by the WHO: “Health systems can only function with health workers; improving health service coverage and realizing the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is dependent on their availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality”.1,p10 there is no agreement on what sufficient availability of health workforce means or on the main regulatory aspects regarding the number, distribution, pertinence and quality of healthcare personnel.[2,5]. In Colombia, the growth of the health services market, as well as the increase in the number of training programs aimed at health professionals, is a trend that hinders any planning intention of health human resources by the State, as acknowledged by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection in 2016.8
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
