An historical CIOMS report of the conference Papers, conclusions and recommendations from the XX CIOMS Conference held in Acapulco, Mexico, 7-12 September 1986.

The shortage of some categories of health workers remains a problem in many developing countries, while in some others and in a growing number of developed countries overproduction and unemployment of certain categories of health professionals are causing increasing concern. In addition, there is frequently a discrepancy between the training health workers receive and the skills they need to provide health care for the needs of the population. Moreover, few countries have a manpower distribution pattern that conforms to community needs, whether such distribution is by geographical area, by occupation, by speciality or by type of health care setting. In some countries, even those facing an acute shortage of highly trained health workers, the so-called “brain drain” has traditionally been a well-recognized phenomenon.