Mid-level health providers: a promising resource to achieve the health Millennium Development Goals

Overview

Mid-level providers (MLPs) are health workers with 2-3 years of post- secondary school healthcare training who undertake tasks usually carried out by doctors and nurses, such as clinical or diagnostic functions. They are increasingly being used to render services autonomously, particularly in rural and remote areas to make up for the gaps in health workers with higher qualifications. Despite their growing role, they are seldom properly integrated into the health system and are not adequately planned for nor managed.

This report has been developed based on statements provided by the expert advisers and contributions made by participants as part of a discussion aimed to share evidence and good practice examples of the impact of MLPs and offer policy-relevant reflections which was hosted by the Human Resources for Health (HRH) Exchange, a community of practice facilitated by the Global Health Workforce Alliance, complemented by a selective literature review.

Experience demonstrates that, where these MLPs are adequately trained, supported and supervised, they can deliver essential health services with similar quality standards as physicians, and often for a fraction of the cost. They should therefore be included as part of the general planning and management of the health system, and equally benefit from support, supervision, regulation, quality control, and opportunities for professional development and career progression.