Supply Side Analysis of Human Resources for Rural Health Services: A Case Study of An Indian

Supply Side Analysis of Human Resources for Rural Health Services:

A Case Study Orissa State in India

Abstract

Prof.S. Peppin, PhD

Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India

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India suffers from huge shortage of human resources in health. The situation in states like Orissa, having very high IMR and MMR, is very alarming. Therefore, a study was undertaken to assess the present and future (10 years) supply and requirements for essential health personnel for rural health services in Orissa. This study also estimated the human resources (HR) gaps for present and future requirements against norms /standards disaggregated by functions and matched specialties /cadres.

Using forecasting models and other methods to estimate supply and demand, the study identified the HR gaps among doctors, general nursing and midwives (GNMs) auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs), lab technicians and pharmacists. The study also identified the ratio of availability for the period 2006-2010 and generated GIS map for each district in Orissa in order to assist the government to formulate equitable strategies.

The need-supply gap analysis revealed that as per the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS), the gap for doctors is expected to last till 2015; but as per WHO norms, except for pharmacists, the gap will continue to exist for all cadres till 2018. The study also looked at best HR practices in health in some of the better performing states in India.

The study recommended the need is to leveraging and encouraging the existing human resources to work in the system. Skill enhancement, substitution and relocation, increasing the existing number of seats and starting more medical and nursing colleges are the other key recommendations.

The findings of the studies are used for evolving strategic and policy directions to meet the growing demand for human resources in health, particularly in the rural sector.

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