Addressing the shortage of health professionals in South Africa through the development of a new cadre of health worker: the creation of Clinical Associates.

Have Non-physician Clinicians Come to Stay?; Comment on “Non-physician Clinicians in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Evolving Role of Physicians”

A decade ago, sub-Saharan Africa accounted for 24% of the global disease burden but was served by only 4% of the global health workforce. The chronic shortage of medical doctors has led other health professionals especially nurses to perform the role of healthcare providers. These health workers have been variously named clinical officers, health officers, physician assistants, nurse practition...

Addressing the Shortage of Health Professionals in Rural China: Issues and Progress; Comment on “Have Health Human Resources Become More Equal between Rural and Urban Areas after the New Reform?”

Maldistribution of health professionals between urban and rural areas has been a serious problem in China. Urban hospitals attract most of the health professionals with serious shortages in rural areas. To address this issue, a number of policies have been implemented by the government, such as free medical education in exchange for obligatory rural service.

Developing a new mid-level health worker: lessons from South Africa's experience with clinical associates

BACKGROUND Mid-level medical workers play an important role in health systems and hold great potential for addressing the human resource shortage, especially in low- and middle-income countries. South Africa began the production of its first mid-level medical workers - known as clinical associates - in small numbers in 2008. OBJECTIVE We describe the way in which scopes of practice and course...

A Response to the Commentary Entitled: “Addressing the Shortage of Health Professionals in Rural China: Issues and Progress”

A Partnership Model for Improving Service Delivery in Remote Papua New Guinea: A Mixed Methods Evaluation

Background The Community Mine Continuation Agreement Middle (CMCA) and South Fly Health Program (the Health Program) is a partnership for improving health service delivery in remote Papua New Guinea (PNG). The Health Program is delivered by a private contractor working in partnership with existing health service providers to improve service delivery using existing government systems, where poss...