International health organisations and recruitment of health workers.

摘要

David Southall and colleagues (Aug 14, p 498)1 rightly highlight some negative consequences of wealthy international health organisations (IHOs) recruiting staff from poor national health services (NHS) in developing countries. However, important issues are overlooked.First, national-international divides need not be so stark. More jobs in IHOs could directly support NHS services. I have seen this work well in Malawi: IHOs employed two (or more) part-time clinicians, rather than one full-time. Advantages included: more individuals earning a living wage and motivated to stay in-country; all continuing and sharing front-line NHS work; and IHO policy and programmes benefiting from the front-line experience of its staff.