Table 1

HRH-related constraints and possible variables to measure constraints

Constraint
Possible indicator
Data availability and potential source

Individual characteristics


     Gender
Proportion of women in the workforce by skill level
MoH statistical data and/or workforce census
     Social class and ethnicity of staff
Representation of health workers from minority groups
MoH statistical data and/or workforce census
     Demand for medical training
Number of applicants per training position
Medical training institutions
     Disease
HIV/AIDS prevalence rates among health workers
MoH statistical data and/or surveys
Health service level


     Team building and interaction
Number of team meetings and supervisions
Survey
     Surpluses, shortages and skill mix at health service level
Proportion of health staff working in correctly staffed services
MoH statistical data and/or surveys
     Physical working environment
Proportion of health staff working in correctly equipped services
MoH statistical data and/or surveys
Health sector level


     Salary level and monetary incentives
Salary grids in absolute terms
MoH and/or MoF statistical data
     Performance management and productivity
Existence of frameworks for managing the collection and use of performance evidence (including carrier plans)
MoH policy documents surveys on productivity
     Composition of workforce and skill mix
Shortages or surpluses of staff in particular occupations or professions / Appropriately skilled workers for addressing priority diseases (e.g. HIV/AIDS, malaria, TB)
MoH statistical data and/or workforce census
     Geographical imbalances
Distribution of appropriately skilled workers across regions
MoH statistical data and/or workforce census
     Retention policy
Existence of retention policy
MoH policy documents
     Health sector reform
Improvements in performance and responsiveness to adjust staff roles
Surveys
     HRH policy and planning
Planning of future HRH availability and requirements
MoH policy documents
Training capacities


     Training
Number of trainees per skill level
Medical training institutions
     Retraining
Number of re-trainees per skill level
Continuous medical training institutions
Socio-political and economic context of a country


     Multisectoral approaches
Quality of exchange among different interest groups and ministries
Policy documents and/or complementary assessments
     Migration
Number of health staff migrating
MoH statistical data and/or workforce census
     Governance and overall policy framework
Political stability, priority attached to social sectors, decentralization, civil service rules, etc.
Policy documents and/or complementary assessments

Wyss Human Resources for Health 2004 2:11   doi:10.1186/1478-4491-2-11