Publication Details
Abstract
Human resources constitute one of the most important resources in the healthcare sector because the quality, availability, motivation and competence of healthcare workers directly influence healthcare outcomes. This study examines the impact of human resource planning and staff development on healthcare delivery in Nigeria, using selected health institutions in Enugu Metropolis as the focus. The study is premised on the argument that inadequate workforce planning, staff shortages, inappropriate staff deployment, limited training opportunities and weak career-development mechanisms contribute to poor healthcare service delivery. The study adopts a descriptive survey research design. Data was collected from healthcare professionals, administrators and other relevant personnel in selected public and private health institutions in Enugu Metropolis through structured questionnaires and interviews. Descriptive statistics, correlation and regression analysis are proposed for data analysis. This study establishes the extent to which human resource planning and staff development influence employee competence, service efficiency, patient satisfaction and overall healthcare delivery. The paper recommends systematic workforce forecasting, regular training and retraining, effective succession planning, equitable staff distribution, performance appraisal and stronger institutional support for continuous professional development. The study concludes that effective human resource planning and sustained staff development are essential for improving the efficiency, accessibility, quality and sustainability of healthcare delivery in Nigeria.