Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 September 2017
367. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if Ireland is implementing the Kampala Declaration and Agenda for Global Action of the World Health Organisation; his views on the fact that foreign doctors are taking up permanent positions in the health service rather than practising in their home countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40593/17]
View answerThe Kampala Declaration and Agenda for Global Action recognise the need for action to resolve the accelerating crisis in the global health workforce and call on Governments to determine the appropriate health workforce skill mix while providing coordinated and coherent support to formulate and implement comprehensive country health workforce strategies and plans.
As set out in its Statement of Strategy 2016-2019, my Department has committed to developing a national strategic framework for health workforce planning, in collaboration with Government Departments and agencies. During 2016, my Department convened a Cross-sectoral Steering Group to develop a national strategic framework for health workforce planning. A consultation draft of the framework was completed in mid-2017 and was subject to a stakeholder consultation process over the summer. Submissions received as part of this consultation process have been considered by the Steering Group and the draft Framework has been updated accordingly. I expect to receive the final version of the Framework shortly, accompanied by a high-level implementation plan.
The Fourth Global Forum on Human Resources for Health, which will take place in Dublin in November and is co-hosted by my Department in collaboration with the WHO, Irish Aid and HSE will provide a key opportunity for all stakeholders to show a collective commitment to developing and making available the workforce required to achieve universal health coverage and deliver the Sustainable Development Goals targets for health.
