Recruitment, deployment and retention
by Tim Martineau([email protected])
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK
Meeting on the Regional Strategy and Initiatives on Human Resources for Health 24-26 August 2009, WPRO, Manila
There are a high number of vacant posts in the health service, especially
in rural areas
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
Far
West
Mid
West
West Central East
Number
Posts
We can’t just solve the problem by ‘scaling up’
Systems for staffing posts are often ineffective and outdated
But we must make the best of the current and potential supply of staff
We need better systems
for filling vacant posts
First we need to appreciate
the main concepts of workforce dynamics
The workforce flows can be
represented as route from
recruitment to resignation
High SchoolHealth training
institute
Other training
Pool of qualified health
workers
Adapted from: Vujicic et al, 2004
Out of labour force
Employed
Unemployed Non-health sector
Health sector
Migration
Immigration
High SchoolHealth training
institute
Other training
Pool of qualified health
workers
Adapted from: Vujicic et al, 2004
Out of labour force
Employed
Unemployed Non-health sector
Health sector
Migration
Immigration
We need appropriate systems to
manage the flows
effectively
The labour market is an
important part of workforce dynamics
Public
NGO
FBO
PFP
Other sectorNot employed
Other countries
Then we turn to the systems for influencing the workforce dynamics and
the challenges
Recruitment
DeploymentRetention
Recruitment
Recruitment
DeploymentRetention
Filling a vacancy can be a complex business!
Source: Report of the Joint Design Mission to the Kenyan Health Sector, 2007.
Deployment
Recruitment
DeploymentRetention
I can’t find your file!
Good systems can be distorted
Retention
Recruitment
DeploymentRetention
We can learn how to
improve our systems from innovations
tried by others
Recruitment examples
Recruitment
DeploymentRetention
Streamlining the recruitment process (Kenya Emergency Hiring Programme)
Deployment examples
Recruitment
DeploymentRetention
Retention examples
Recruitment
DeploymentRetention
Zambian Health Workers Retention Scheme (c.2005)
Hardship allowance
Education allowance (children)
Accommodation upgrade
Eligible for PG training
Terminal benefit $$ for training
Interest-free loan (house or car)
Annual appraisal and TNA
Diagnose problems with recruitment, deployment and retention systems
Search for innovative solutions to reduce the number of vacant posts
Make sure you monitor the implementation and impact of your
improved systems