Non-physician Clinicians in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Evolving Role of Physicians

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Date

2016

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Kerman Univ Medical Sciences , Jahad Blvd, Kerman, Iran, 7619813159

Abstract

Responding to critical shortages of physicians, most sub-Saharan countries have scaled up training of nonphysician clinicians (NPCs), resulting in a gradual but decisive shift to NPCs as the cornerstone of healthcare delivery. This development should unfold in parallel with strategic rethinking about the role of physicians and with innovations in physician education and in-service training. In important ways, a growing number of NPCs only renders physicians more necessary – for example, as specialized healthcare providers and as leaders, managers, mentors, and public health administrators. Physicians in sub-Saharan Africa ought to be trained in all of these capacities. This evolution in the role of physicians may also help address known challenges to the successful integration of NPCs in the health system.

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Keywords

Physician Assistants, Professional Delegation, Human Resources for Health, Rural Health Services, Developing Countries, Emigration and Immigration, Delivery of Healthcare, Medical Education, Ethics

Citation

Eyal, N., Cancedda, C., Kyamanywa, P. and Hurst, S.A. (2016). Non-physician clinicians in sub-Saharan Africa and the evolving role of physicians. International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 5(3), p.149.

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