[e-drug] Essential drugs without essential staff (4)

e-drug
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E-DRUG: Essential drugs without essential staff (4)
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Dear E-druggers,

There is no way that the concept of essential drugs will work without the most important element: essential staff. There should basically be facilities, personnel (qualified) and drugs in order to cater for the health needs of the entire population.

Any disparity in the three will lead to imbalance and distribution and appropriate use of such drug commodities. Unfortunately Africa is not doing enough to retain the most skilled labour at its disposal and as a result brain drain is to be among us for ages unless this is addressed.

But is this, "essential staff" going to stay if they are well remunerated? Are there factors affecting choice to stay or not to stay?

Timothy Mahlatsi
Tshwane University of Technology
South Africa
MahlatsiGT@tut.ac.za

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E-DRUG: Essential drugs without essential staff (5)
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Timothy raised a few points on this subject to which I wish to
respond.

1. There might be an element of truth in the ascertion that Africa is
not doing enough to retain its skilled human resources. However,
richer countries are doing a lot to poach those resources. A donkey
does not move forward merely because it is informed that there may
be a bunch of carrots at the other end - the carrot has to be dangled
in front of its face.

2. Without resources invested in meeting the needs of our staff, we
just cannot compete. However, the needs go far beyond salary.
Apart from creating a favourable, secure environment, there are
many other aspects that affect staff morale and motivation. One of
the worst is having to do the work of two people, especially if
equipment is not functioning.

3. These issues are unlikely to be resolved without effective
managers who are trained and committed to preserving and
developing the potential of their staff.

My plea is for those in charge of distributing PEPFAR funds to look
beyond the drugs to the patients and the staff who look after their
needs.

Cheers

Billy

Billy Futter
Associate Professor
Faculty of Pharmacy
Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
email B.Futter@ru.ac.za
phone 046 603 8494
fax 046 636 1205