Health human resources (
“HHR”) — also known as
“human resources for health” (
“HRH”) or
“health workforce” — is defined as “all people engaged in actions whose primary intent is to enhance health”, according to the
World Health Organization's
World Health Report 2006. Human resources for health are identified as one of the core building blocks of a
health system. They include
physicians,
nurses,
advanced practice registered nurses,
midwives,
dentists,
allied health professions,
community health workers, social health workers and other
health care providers, as well as health management and support personnel – those who may not deliver services directly but are essential to effective health system functioning, including
health services managers,
medical records and health information technicians, health economists, health supply chain managers, medical secretaries, and others.