Checklist for the Management of Health Workers in Response to COVID-19, 19 November 2020

Abstract

Health emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, present challenges to ensure the availability of health workers in areas of high demand with the necessary capacities to respond adequately to increased demand and expansion of services as well as the possible reduction in available personnel due to, among other things, illness, risk situations, and personal or family issues. Planning and management of human resources for health are essential to ensure preparedness for response, enhance surge capacity, maintain essential health services, and ensure a sufficient and continual supply of health workers that are more efficient and productive, providing them with the training, protections, rights, recognition, and tools necessary to undertake their roles. This checklist is intended for use by PAHO/WHO Health systems and services advisors, PAHO/WHO incident command members, national health authorities (including HRH directors and managers), and directors of health services and networks. It is designed to complement the actions and interventions related to the management of human resources for health described in the document Framework for the response of integrated health services delivery networks to COVID-19.