In March 2024, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) conducted an official country mission in Venezuela with the aim of identifying strategic areas of technical cooperation in human resources for health (HRH). The focus was on policy development, distribution, attraction, and retention of HRH in priority health programs, particularly in primary health care. PAHO collaborated with national authorities to establish a cooperation agenda on key HRH issues, including governance, stewardship, and capacity building.
During the mission, priorities for cooperation in HRH were determined. These included updating the HRH National Plan, strengthening the national HRH observatory, analyzing the health workforce, organizing interprofessional teams, and addressing issues related to the migration and mobility of health professionals. Benjamín Puertas, Unit Chief of Human Resources for Health at PAHO highlighted the potential areas of support that PAHO could provide to Venezuela. This includes updating HRH policies, enhancing HRH information systems, developing competencies through interprofessional education and utilizing the Organization’s Virtual Campus for Public Health.
Puertas met with representatives of the Ministry of Popular Power for Health and the Direction of Integration and International Affairs during the mission. He also visited training centers and primary health care services to engage in discussions with directors and students. This technical cooperation mission is part of PAHO’s broader efforts to strengthen human resources for health in the Region of the Americas.
