Box 2.1 Boundaries of the health workforce
Various permutations and combinations of what constitutes the health workforce may exist
according to the country’s situation and the means of monitoring. Human resources for health
include individuals working in the private and public sectors, those working full-time or parttime,
those working at one job or holding jobs at two or more locations, and those who are paid or
provide services on a voluntary basis. They include workers in different domains of health systems,
such as curative, preventive and rehabilitative care services as well as health education, promotion
and research. They may also include people with the education and training to deliver health
services but who are not engaged in the national health labour market (e.g. if they are unemployed
or have migrated or withdrawn from the labour force for personal reasons).