Human resources for health in the Americas

Abstract

Many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have too many specialists and too few primary care providers and community health workers. These countries need to overhaul their training and payment practices to address this imbalance say human resources experts. Barbara Fraser reports. Until recently Mauro Reyes hospital a jumble of pale blue buildings on the north side of Lima was a neighbourhood health centre. Then the government added some wards and renamed the facility San Juan de Lurigancho Hospital. "They gave it the name but they didnt give me the necessary budget" Reyes a gynaecologist and the new hospitals director said. "They gave me two new wings but they didnt give me the personnel I need." Short-staffed and cash-strapped Reyes must provide care for patients with the myriad of problems common among the urban poor of Latin Americas teeming cities ranging from parasitic infections tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS to teen pregnancy depression and drug addiction. (excerpt)