Strengthening HRH in Jordan

Strengthening HRH in Jordan

In Jordan, the Ministry of Health provides approximately 38 percent of the country’s health services through 377 primary care centers, 98 comprehensive health centers, 202 peripheral health centers, and 31 hospitals. The Jordanian Civil Service System, which includes the Ministry of Health, follows a centralized decision-making approach that dictates the recruitment, appointment, compensation, promotion, and distribution of the health workforce. Uneven distribution and inability to retain health workers have become predominant human resources for health (HRH) issues.

In its Strategic Plan 2013–2017, the Ministry of Health cites the retention of both technical and administrative staff and attracting new talent into the system as two of its major challenges and notes its intent to develop a national plan for human resources for health.

HRH2030 in Jordan

Operating since 2016 as HRH2030’s first field-based activity, the Jordan activity works to strengthen the health workforce for better health services. The activity assists the Ministry of Health to enhance its human resources practices, facility management, and leadership. It works with the High Health Council to strengthen national HRH governance and HRH data for decision-making, and it collaborates with other national health stakeholders to improve health workers’ competencies by institutionalizing continuing professional development.

The program directly supports the Ministry of Health’s Objective #5 to “deploy and manage human resources efficiently and effectively” and advances progress toward the Jordan Vision 2025 goal of universal health coverage for all Jordanians. HRH2030 also works with other players in the health sector, including the Royal Medical Services, university hospitals, Jordan Medical Council, Jordan Nursing Council, and the private sector.  

The primary objectives of HRH2030 in Jordan are to: