Evaluation of Human Resources Planning within the Framework of Turkey’s Health Transformation Program (HTP) with regards to Principles of Justice

Abstract

Objective: Health Transformation Program (HTP) which is a health sector reform began in 2003 in Turkey has changed many parameters within the health sector. In the years when the reform was proposed, it can be said that most of the limitations of the health system are related to the insufficiency of resources and the inability to organize them properly. It is clear that the limitations of human resources, like all resources, bring out the justice problem in distribution. Justice requires fair participation to the resources that will be used in the field of health and fair, honest, and equal distribution of the allocated resource according to needs. Our study will evaluate the human resources policy of the Health Transformation Program in terms of need, equality, utilitarianism, and equity which are the sub-principles of justice.Materials and methods: This research is an example of retrospective study. The health justice principle has been tried to be tested as a new health policy, the Health Transformation Program, was declared in Turkey in 2003 by comparing human resources data between the beginning and end of the process up to 2013. The data acquired in our country will be compared with the data of the world and OECD countries before and after the program. Human resources data will be obtained from the Ministry of Health, State Planning Organization, WHO, WB and OECD.Results and discussion: As a result of the evaluations, it is observed that the principles of justice are generally pursued in the planning and implementation of the Health Transformation Program. On the other hand, it is possible for people to have access to health services according to their needs, as the program claims, by applying the need principle. However, the lack of tangible criteria to determine needs and the ambiguity of the definition of need delimitate the usage of this sub-principle of justice.Conclusion: It is difficult to fully observe the principle of justice in health policies. Fair planning human resources as well as physical resources is significant for both patients and health care workers themselves.International Journal of Human and Health Sciences Vol. 04 No. 01 January’20 Page : 41-50