'Task shifting' vital for HIV treatment success

Developing countries should use less qualified health workers to help treat patients infected with HIV/AIDS, according to a leading service provision body.

The World Health Organization (WHO) made the statement in an attempt to address the shortage of doctors and nurses in a number of African nations, AFP reported.

Highlighting the length of time spent by health professionals on training, Anders Nordstrom, the WHO's assistant director of health systems, claimed that moving tasks to less-qualified workers would reap longer-term benefits.

"Doctors and nurses are essential but countries cannot afford to wait years while they complete their training," he told the website.

"Task shifting not only addresses the two interlinked emergencies of the health worker crisis and the HIV/AIDS pandemic, but also offers long-term potential for strengthening health systems in a way that is consistent with the current renaissance in primary health-care services."

Figures provided by the WHO indicate a global shortage of four million health workers to address the HIV crisis in developing countries.

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