Human talent planning and management policies of the Ministry of Health of Argentina during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The National Direction for Human Talent and Knowledge (DNTHyC) of the National Ministry of Health focused on planning and management health workforce in Argentina during the pandemic COVID-19. Four problems were detected: lack of professionals in critical areas; vulnerability of health workers; uneven distribution of knowledge and inadequate scientific evidence about the virus. The purpose of this article is to describe the approach of the workforce talent policy during the emergency. METHODS: The human talent policies implemented were increase in the workforce available for care; health worker´s care plan; training of professionals in charge of managing the pandemic; and democratization of knowledge. RESULTS: The increase in the workforce has been 15,200 professionals. Programs were developed with more than 20 National Universities and more than 5000 students, and the National Plan for the Care of Health Workers, reached more than 70 hospitals and more than 15 000 workers. Online training for intensive care professionals was developed and supervision of intensive therapies  throughout the country by Tele-Revista, reaching 1200 professionals. DISCUSSION: The social, preventive and compulsory isolation allowed to face the necessary work to reach a staffing, technological developments and specific programs that  configure a governable emergency situation. However, the new virus and the resulting health crisis forced us to think the  conditions of professional training in Argentina