How are Countries Mobilizing and Protecting the Health Workforce in Response to COVID-19?
Hosted by the Health Workforce Special Interest Group of the International Health Economics Association
When:
Wednesday May 6, 2020, 9:00am EST
Panelists:
Michelle McIsaac, MA, PhD, World Health Organization
Matteo Ruggeri, MA, Msc, PhD, UmiCamillus, Italy
Bishnu Gautam, MBA, PhD, Rastra Bank, Nepal
Joanne Spetz, PhD, University of California, San Francisco, United States
Moderator:
Bianca K. Frogner, PhD
Description:
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused countries to scramble to mobilize their health workforce in order to meet rapidly changing patient demand for care. Countries are identifying ways to surge their workforce by extending expired and issuing temporary licenses, retraining and redeploying workers from other specialties, encouraging regional and international mobility, developing new roles, and other activities. Reimbursement schemes are evolving to help pay for the workers managing COVID-19 patients but health systems are struggling to help workers maintain their own well-being during the crisis, meet their own family care needs, and reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19. In this webinar, we will hear from a representative from the World Health Organization to hear the general strategies being recommended and implemented around the world as well as hear from experts from Italy, Nepal, and the U.S. The panelists will discuss both short-term and long-term challenges to sustain the health workforce as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves. The session will include with a discussion of opportunities for future learning on the dynamics of human resources for health.