Conclusion

With planning and forethought, it is possible to ensure that stakeholders use available evidence when making policies and decisions intended to improve HRH systems in general and health workforce recruitment and retention in particular. As the Uganda example illustrates, these steps can help build interest, momentum, and political will to make policy decisions for retention strategies to strengthen the health workforce and improve access to high-quality health care for the population. Moving forward from their evidence-based retention policy decisions, it is important for stakeholders to evaluate policy implementation and its effect on service delivery.