Extending the health workforce: Recruitment and retention of health professionals in primary health care

• Globally, the primary health care professional workforce is in short supply especially in rural areas. • This workforce is global and mobile. • Demand for health services is increasing, while the workforce and resources remain relatively constant... Outline: • This paper explores present and future recruitment and retention strategies of health professionals into primary health care with a particular emphasis on rural areas. • Describes factors which will impact on the supply and demand of health professionals in primary health care. • Describes a systems approach to health professional education, recruitment and retention. • Describes the importance of research within this system using both quantitative and qualitative research • Explores the implications of these findings for global health workforce policy