Health Emergencies and Health Workforce Surge Capacity—Policy Response and Options for Resilient Health Systems

Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic and the complexity of a public health emergency response have brought into focus the existing health workforce (HWF) challenges, and India is no exception. We studied the responses of in-depth interviews with policymakers in 13 States and Union Territories of India during the COVID-19 pandemic in comparison with the desk review of global innovative HWF practices. Based on the responses, four thematic areas emerged: protecting HWF, HWF surge capacity, administrative and legal measures, and other measures. Our evaluation shows that India’s response was quick and effective, providing disaster preparedness and mitigation lessons. Mobilization of more HWF, reskilling and repurposing, and ensuring physical along with psycho-social well-being of HWF were the key features of India’s policy response. Many of India’s policies resonate with innovative global practices like reassigning and reallocating tasks to medical students, Thailand’s temporary contractual appointments of HWF, New Zealand’s policy for retired HWF to re-join public system, Singapore’s strategy on rigorous training for HWF and non-HWF for support activities. However, from national and international experiences, additional policy options emerge. Short-term measures include mobilizing private and nongovernmental HWF, creation of funded temporary positions, accelerated recruitment of existing vacant positions, and strengthening mobilization of non-health workforce for support activities. Long-term measures are creating funded permanent HWF positions, national policy for interstate transfers of HWF and expanding the first responders’ network including non-healthcare workforce for emergencies.