Kerman University of Medical Sciences International Journal of Health Policy and Management 2322-5939 6 2 2017 02 01 Non-physician Clinicians – A Gain for Physicians’ Working in Sub-Saharan Africa; Comment on “Non-physician Clinicians in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Evolving Role of Physicians” 119 121 3253 10.15171/ijhpm.2016.110 EN Delanyo Dovlo World Health Organization (WHO) Africa Region Office, Brazzaville, Congo Ibiso Ivy King-Harry SUN Business Network, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, Abuja, Nigeria Kevin Ousman Department of Health System Policies and Operations, World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) Brazzaville, Congo Journal Article 2016 06 08 The changing demands on the health sectors in low- and middle-income countries especially sub-Saharan African countries continue to challenge efforts to address critical shortages of the health workforce. Addressing these challenges have led to the evolution of “non-physician clinicians” (NPCs), that assume some physician roles and thus mitigate the continuing shortage of doctors in these countries. While it is agreed that changes are needed in physicians’ roles and their training as part of the new continuum of care that includes NPCs, we disagree that such training should be geared solely at ensuring physicians dominated health systems. Discussions on the workforce models to suit low-income countries must avoid an endorsement of a culture of physician focused health systems as the only model for sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). It is also essential that training for NPCs be harmonized with that of physicians to clarify the technical roles of both. https://www.ijhpm.com/article_3253_4ad13f04ef4373992c9d3046200aa350.pdf