Abstract
This commentary is a further discussion of a paper published in this journal on the health professional training initiative led by the Government of Rwanda since 2012 and presented as a case study. According to the authors, the partnership program with international academic institutions may serve as model for other countries to address the shortage of health professionals and to strengthen institutional capacity, based on the competencybased and innovative training programs, the numbers of graduates, the improved quality of health services and institution strengthening. However, the conditions may not be as optimal elsewhere. A supportive government policy, massive funding and an academic consortium comprised of 19 United States academic institutions have contributed to the success of the program. We also noted that the trained professionals were clinicians almost exclusively, at the expense of public health specialists and other health professionals who can better address emerging issues such as non-communicable diseases (NCDs) particularly for their prevention, which is now compelling. Among others, the training of more nutritionists as members of the health team is needed.
Highlights
The purpose of this commentary is to further discuss the experience of the Rwanda Human Resources for Health (HRH) program in the light of the case study published in this Journal.[1]
In its latest progress report, World Health Organization (WHO) underlines the persistent severe shortage of qualified health professionals, with 76 countries having less than one physician per 1000 population over the period 2007-2016.2 Yet it has to be recognized that medical education in sub-Saharan Africa has come a long way since the colonial days.[3]
Program funds flow to the low- or middle-income country (LMIC)based leadership group, which contracts with peers from high-income countries (HICs) to provide technical and scientific advice and consultation in a ‘reverse funds flow’ model
Summary
The purpose of this commentary is to further discuss the experience of the Rwanda Human Resources for Health (HRH) program in the light of the case study published in this Journal.[1].
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