Pages 679-681 in R. Fortuine et al., eds. Circumpolar Health 96. Proceedings of the Tenth International Congress on Circumpolar Health, Anchorage, Alaska, 1996. Int J Circumpolar Health. 1998;57 Supp 1.
Pages 679-681 in R. Fortuine et al., eds. Circumpolar Health 96. Proceedings of the Tenth International Congress on Circumpolar Health, Anchorage, Alaska, 1996. Int J Circumpolar Health. 1998;57 Supp 1.
Challenges in health service delivery in circumpolar countries include rapid turnover of professional personnel, maintaining quality care, and development of appropriate structure of the health care system. Recruitment and retention of personnel dedicated to indigenous health care and work in small communities is an ongoing issue. Strategies such as decentralized education, student programs, financial incentives, cross-cultural training, consultant networks, and community initiatives have all been applied to varying degrees. As the problem is similar across circumpolar countries, this roundtable will be an opportunity to explore new incentives and approaches to recruitment and retention from several countries.