Retaining and Motivating Health Worker in Very Remote Area of Indonesia, Do They Respond To The Incentives?

Abstract

Adequate Human Resources for Health (HRH) are
crucial to the delivery of health care services in very remote areas
of Indonesia. However, very remote areas suffer shortages in
terms the number, type and quality of staff. This situation must
be addressed through innovative policy, planning and
implementation, such as incentives for retaining and motivating
health workers. This paper aims to assess the application of an
incentive scheme based on working location. The role of
decentralized local government on incentives given to health
workers also will be discussed. A desk study was performed from
a relevant published materials, MoH database and online
literature. The document highlights the importance of financial
and non financial incentives. However, financial incentives alone
are insufficient to retain and motivate the health workforce.
Incentive systems must be integrated within the health system, in
line with the goal and objective of Indonesia’s health
development. The role of local leadership under decentralization
is also crucial to motivate and maintain staff in the workplace.
Different incentives between contracted and permanent staff in
very remote areas must be established to ensure sustainability of
the program.