Building health systems resilience in Central Asia through nursing and midwifery: evidence to inform policy action
Llop-Gironés A. Azhymambetova G.K. Asanova A.K. Salomuddin Y. Boynazarova M.H. Raupov F.O. Zholzhanova N.U. Ruzdenova N.B. Tojiboyeva G.S. Salikhodjayeva R.K. Langins M.
December 2024BioMed Central Ltd
Human Resources for Health
2024#22Issue 1
Background: The recent announcement of the next WHO State of the World’s Nursing and Midwifery Reports calls for a review of the state of nursing and midwifery worldwide. In the WHO European region, a broad set of health system reforms have been introduced in Central Asian countries (CACs), namely, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan. These reforms have become the focus of a series of sub-regional policy dialogs between CACs, led by government chief nursing and midwifery officers, to accelerate the implementation of a package of policies to strengthen the capacity of nurses and midwives and build health system resilience. This study reviews the current state of nursing and midwifery capacity and documents future actions that can be taken in CACs. Case presentation: A systematic approach was used to describe trends, capacity and gaps in CACs’ education, practice, regulation, leadership, and working conditions of nurses and midwives. Currently, CACs face challenges in increasing the level, quality and evidence-base of nursing and midwifery education, require efforts to expand the role of nurses, with emphasis on PHC and particular attention is required to decent working conditions, including fair income and security in the workplace. The GCNMOs have demonstrated experience in the oversight of both workforces and require support for effective work in making policies. To build health systems resilience in CACs through nursing and midwifery, a strategic package of evidence-informed actions that addresses education, practice, regulation, leadership, and working conditions of nurses and midwives is suggested for the period up to 2030. Conclusions: Current educational reforms and curricular development, combined with innovations in clinical practice and working environment can be pursued to foster better access to quality of care, enhance workplace satisfaction and improve recruitment and retention of nurses and midwives. However, to fully achieve this, CACs will require increased institutional capacity; strengthened data for nursing and midwifery planning in the context of health workforce policy and health priorities, and financial and non-financial investment in the nursing and midwifery workforce.
Care , Education , Health policy , Health workforce governance , Health workforce planning , Leadership , Midwifery , Nursing , Working conditions
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WHO European Region, Copenhagen, Denmark
Department of Organization of Medical Care and Drug Policy, Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Association of Nursing Specialists of the Kyrgyz Republic, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Ministry of Health of the Republic of Tajikistan, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Department of Science and Human Resources, Ministry of Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Astana, Kazakhstan
Union of Medical Colleges of Kazakhstan, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Department of Nursing With Higher Education of the Center for Development of Professional Qualification of Medical Workers, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
WHO European Region
Department of Organization of Medical Care and Drug Policy
Association of Nursing Specialists of the Kyrgyz Republic
Ministry of Health of the Republic of Tajikistan
Department of Science and Human Resources
Union of Medical Colleges of Kazakhstan
Department of Nursing With Higher Education of the Center for Development of Professional Qualification of Medical Workers
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