Health policy-making in Vietnam, India and China: Looking back the developing process on human resource of national master plan for safe motherhood in the period 2003 – 2010 in Vietnam

Objectives: To describe the consideration of human resource during the policy-making process of National Master Plan for Safe Motherhood in Vietnam (2003 – 2010) (NMPSM) Method: The study used qualitative research techniques with key persons related to policy-making process. 14 in-depth interviews and 1 focus group discussion were done. Firstly, the researchers collect documents, notes, minutes, publications,… Personal focal points to writing agencies such as the Department of Reproductive Health (RH) was used. Snow ball method acts as an important tool to identify new interviewees from the first ones. Results: The research points out that the NMPSM was based on a very strong and academic evidences. The plan focus on remote and mountainous areas, which have the most difficulties in human resources. The interviewees mentioned on the shortage of qualified obstetric and gynaecological staffs. There is not enough midwives in commune level. There is no mechanism to motivate midwives in remote areas. Besides, most of the midwives are not be re-trained to updated knowledge and skills. The re-trained ones are taught with out-of-date curriculumn. So training for midwives skills was written as a priority in NMPSM. However, there is not such clear statement for the way to train for new midwive, for the sources to be mobilized for this activities. The NMPSM also does not write clearly on the cooperation and sustainability of all related stakeholders. Conclusion: In short, human resource was introduced in the Master Plan. However, the solutions used to address should need to be revised after 5 years of implementing with not much change.