Empowering Patients and Strengthening Communities for Real Health Workforce and Funding Targets
Bulletin of the World Health Organization, Vol. 91, No. 11, p. 889 (2013)
Northeastern University School of Law Research Paper No. 179-2014
2 Pages Posted: 24 Mar 2014 Last revised: 26 Apr 2014
Date Written: November 1, 2013
Abstract
Setting ambitious targets for expanding the global health workforce and improving the quality, efficiency and equity of service delivery is long overdue. Past density-need estimates suffer from a lack of contextual sensitivity and low ambition. Proposed frameworks for setting new targets have neglected some of the most important lessons that have emerged from the AIDS movement and treatment expansion: that health services must be deployed at the local community level and that patients can and must be empowered to prevent ill health and manage their own care – in short to be partners in their own well-being. Empowered patients and communities will also drive advocacy efforts to improve and expand the health workforce and to ensure that it received adequate and sustained resources.
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation