Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Date
2007
Journal
The Lancet
Volume
Volume 370, Issue 9605
Inclusive Pages
2158-2163
Keywords
Allied Health Personnel--statistics & numerical data; HIV/AIDS
Abstract
Many countries have health-care providers who are not trained as physicians but who take on many of the diagnostic and clinical functions of medical doctors. We identified non-physician clinicians (NPCs) in 25 of 47 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, although their roles varied widely between countries. In nine countries, numbers of NPCs equalled or exceeded numbers of physicians. In general NPCs were trained with less cost than were physicians, and for only 3–4 years after secondary school. All NPCs did basic diagnosis and medical treatment, but some were trained in specialty activities such as caesarean section, ophthalmology, and anaesthesia. Many NPCs were recruited from rural and poor areas, and worked in these same regions. Low training costs, reduced training duration, and success in rural placements suggest that NPCs could have substantial roles in the scale-up of health workforces in sub-Saharan African countries, including for the planned expansion of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programmes.
APA Citation
Mullan, F., & Frehywot, S. (2007). Non-physician clinicians in 47 sub-Saharan African countries. The Lancet, Volume 370, Issue 9605 (). Retrieved from https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/sphhs_policy_facpubs/334
Open Access
1