Call to action

Background

Today’s global health workforce crisis is deadly serious. Too many countries have desperate shortages of health care professionals, impacting negatively on patient outcomes and health worker well being. The reasons are complex - but outstanding is the poor quality of most healthcare work environments that are undermining performance and driving health professionals away.

There is another option. Positive practice environments are health care settings that support excellence and decent work. They have the power to attract and retain staff, improve patient satisfaction, safety and outcomes, and deliver cost-effective services.

We urge all health sector actors – health care professionals, managers, patients, policy makers, and community leaders – to join in commitment and action to create quality workplaces for quality care. Individuals can make a difference locally and together create positive change for regional and international policy and practices.

How you can contribute

  1. Take a look at the health care work environment. Using the PPE checklist, understand the strengths and weaknesses of the workplace, its organizational climate and work environment.
  2. Make the case for healthy, supportive work environments, through evidence of their positive impact on staff recruitment/retention, patient outcomes and health sector performance. Present it, publish it and talk about it to everyone.
  3. Provide more evidence on PPEs. Consider a catalogue of good practices in human resources management, occupational health and safety, professional development, etc.
  4. Drive a sustained trend in establishing and applying the principles of positive practice environments across your health facility and national health sector, establishing positive models and introducing supportive policies.
  5. Join with others, raising awareness and building alliances to make a change, make a difference.
  6. Celebrate success in support of effective strategies that promote sustainable health systems.
  7. Sign on to the checklist for a positive practice environment in your setting, community, country.