Challenges of retaining health workers in the PNFP sector: the case of Uganda catholic health network

Abstract

Shortage of human resource for health poses a major challenge to achieving the millennium development goals. Uganda is among the 57 countries with human resource shortage reaching critical level and the situation is worst at lower levels of the health system. The private-not-for-profit (PNFP) health sub-sector in Uganda complements government efforts to achieve the MDG, the second health sector strategic plan (HSSP II) and the health-related objectives of the poverty eradication plan (PEAP). The Uganda Catholic Medical Bureau coordinates the Roman Catholic health facilities network, one of the three PNFP networks in Uganda. This paper, presented at a conference organized by the Faculty of Health Sciences of Uganda Martyrs University in March 2007, looks at the HRH crisis as experienced by the UCMB network giving the trend, examining the reasons, the destinations of attritional cases and what the network is trying to do to improve human resource stability. The information is based on quarterly reports received by the bureau from its affiliated health facilities.