Evaluation of Rural Incentive Schemes for Health Workers in Timor-Leste

In Timor-Leste, the Ministry of Health faces challenges in retaining health workers in the public sector, particularly in rural areas where absenteeism can be high and health infrastructure is lacking. The government of Timor-Leste has made efforts to retain rural health workers by developing incentives mechanisms such as recruiting students from rural areas, providing scholarships for health students, and providing motorbikes and fuel subsidies for doctors in rural areas. To evaluate these existing rural incentive mechanisms, the USAID Health System Sustainability Activity conducted a review focusing on their effectiveness and impact and providing a situational analysis of their implementation, supplemented by recommendations for further improvement.