Alicja Domagała1, Jacek Klich2. 1. Institute of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland. Electronic address: alicja.domagala@uj.edu.pl. 2. Cracow University of Economics, Faculty of Public Economy and Administration, Krakow, Poland. Electronic address: uuklich@cyf-kr.edu.pl.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Poland has the lowest number of physicians per 1000 population (2.2/1000) in the EU. This is accompanied by a considerable migration rate of Polish physicians to other EU countries (estimated at above 7%). Among other consequences, this results in waiting lists and unmet health needs. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article is an identification of the main challenges for physician workforce planning in Poland. METHODS: The authors analysed national and international documents, reports, official statements, publications and statistical databases. MAIN FINDINGS: In Poland health workforce planning is inadequate and insufficient. There is no formal structure and no strategy regarding human resource planning or regular forecasts for the health workforce, which results in many negative effects for the healthcare system. Currently the shortage of physicians in some specialties is becoming one of the most important reasons for limited access to care and lengthening the average wait time. CONCLUSIONS: To improve this situation operational and strategic actions should be undertaken without unnecessary delay. Effective and close cooperation between key stakeholders is needed. Health workforce planning needs to become one of the key building blocks of the Polish health system's reforms, strongly connected to the other functions of the health system. It is essential for Poland to follow available good practices in health workforce planning.
BACKGROUND: Poland has the lowest number of physicians per 1000 population (2.2/1000) in the EU. This is accompanied by a considerable migration rate of Polish physicians to other EU countries (estimated at above 7%). Among other consequences, this results in waiting lists and unmet health needs. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article is an identification of the main challenges for physician workforce planning in Poland. METHODS: The authors analysed national and international documents, reports, official statements, publications and statistical databases. MAIN FINDINGS: In Poland health workforce planning is inadequate and insufficient. There is no formal structure and no strategy regarding human resource planning or regular forecasts for the health workforce, which results in many negative effects for the healthcare system. Currently the shortage of physicians in some specialties is becoming one of the most important reasons for limited access to care and lengthening the average wait time. CONCLUSIONS: To improve this situation operational and strategic actions should be undertaken without unnecessary delay. Effective and close cooperation between key stakeholders is needed. Health workforce planning needs to become one of the key building blocks of the Polish health system's reforms, strongly connected to the other functions of the health system. It is essential for Poland to follow available good practices in health workforce planning.
Authors: Alicja Domagała; Małgorzata M Bała; Dawid Storman; Juan Nicolás Peña-Sánchez; Mateusz J Świerz; Mateusz Kaczmarczyk; Monika Storman Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2018-11-13 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Julia Unger; Polina Putrik; Frank Buttgereit; Daniel Aletaha; Gerolamo Bianchi; Johannes W J Bijlsma; Annelies Boonen; Nada Cikes; João Madruga Dias; Louise Falzon; Axel Finckh; Laure Gossec; Tore K Kvien; Eric L Matteson; Francisca Sivera; Tanja A Stamm; Zoltan Szekanecz; Dieter Wiek; Angela Zink; Christian Dejaco; Sofia Ramiro Journal: RMD Open Date: 2018-12-05