This issue addresses the special theme of retaining health workers in remote and rural areas. Manuel M Dayrit et al. (322) discuss this global challenge, particularly in countries with critical shortages of health workers. Lincoln C Chen (323) describes the uneven distribution of health workers and the challenges that countries face.
Chile
Combined incentives work
Sebastian Peña et al. (371–378) explore a programme that successfully matches physicians’ interests in specialization with the need for rural doctors.
Cuba
Calling all doctors
Gail Reed (325–326) reports on the medical school that is training doctors for the developing world.
Ghana
Incentives for medical students
Margaret E Kruk et al. (333–341) research influences on medical students’ job choices.
Kenya, South Africa & Thailand
Attracting nurses to rural areas
D Blaauw et al. (350–356) find different benefits attract nurses in each country studied.
Norway
Dealing with doctor shortages
Karin Straume & Daniel MP Shaw (390–394) look at ways to keep doctors practising in Norway’s far north.
Ethiopia and Rwanda
Who wants a rural health post?
Pieter Serneels et al. (342–349) study why health workers decide to work in a rural area.
Nigeria
Pilot insurance plan
Gary Humphreys (329–330) reports on how a Dutch-supported foundation is ‘exporting’ private health insurance to Nigeria.
Rising to the challenge
In an interview, Awojobi Oluyombo (331–332) explains his innovative approach to working as a rural surgeon.
Senegal
Solving regional differences
Pascal Zurn et al. (386–389) show how a flexible contracting system can make it easier to recruit in remote areas.
Global
Where have all the nurses gone?
Kathryn Senior (327–328) reports on the global shortage of nurses and how some countries are working to change this.
Decentralized health financing
Mahjabeen Haji et al. (397–399) look at how the design of health financing systems can help keep health workers in their posts.
Does compulsory service work?
Seble Frehywot et al. (364–370) describe ways that governments are using compulsory service to place health workers in remote and rural areas.
Getting staff to stay in rural areas
Carmen Dolea et al. (379–385) analyse the effectiveness of policies to attract and keep health workers. Luis Huicho et al. (357–363) propose a framework to measure the effect these policies.
The role of medical schools
James Rourke (395–396) discusses ways medical schools can encourage rural practice.
Where do we stand on the Millennium Development Goals?
Carla AbouZahr & Ties Boerma (324) suggest reasons for varied progress towards the health-related targets.