Healthcare worker shortages in Papua New Guinea and the need to focus on employee engagement

Abstract

In Papua New Guinea, there is a lack of literature on the impact of severe staff shortages in health service delivery. Clinician to patient ratios are well below the WHO international standard and the lowest in the region. Main factors contributing to the shortage include a constrained training system, an aging workforce and increasing population. Staff shortages contribute significantly to the increased risk of patient safety incidents and mortality. Whilst measures to reduce staff shortages take considerable time and investment, appropriate leadership is necessary to improve the engagement of the current workforce to achieve quality patient care and high work output.