"The Changing Health Workforce: International Perspectives" The Fourth FICOSSER General Conference Cuernavaca, Mexico 28-30, July 1998 Final Reminder The 4th General Conference of FICOSSER (Federation for International Cooperation of Health Services and Systems Research Centres) will be held in Cuernavaca, Mexico, in late July 1998.* Besides two plenary sessions, there will be several parallel specialized sessions. One of the specialized sessions will be devoted to discussing "The Changing Health Workforce: International Perspectives." Since health care is a labour-intensive industry and health personnel typically account for a substantial proportion of health care expenditure. In view of health care reforms taking place in many countries, health spending containment, and fast-changing medical technologies, it is important to examine how such changes affect the health workforce and the impact of the changing health workforce on health care systems in different countries. The session is interested in papers on various aspects of the health workforce: growth, distribution, training, regulation, utilization, management, compensation, emergence of new occupations and roles, etc. Number of Presentations: There will be six presentations at the session, followed by open discussions. Language: For the benefit of an international audience, presentations and discussions at the session will be in English. Papers can be written in English, Spanish, or French, but with a detailed summary in English (summaries will be distributed to session audience). Abstract: Presentation abstracts, written in English and not to exceed 300 words, should include: title of presentation; name, title, and organizational affiliation of authors; and a description of the study. Deadlines: Presentation abstracts must be received by session organizer no later than October 17, 1997. Authors of accepted presentations will be notified in early 1998. Completed papers must be received by session organizer no later than May 15, 1998. Send Abstracts To: Raymond W. Pong, Ph.D. Research Director Northern Health Human Resources Research Unit Laurentian University Sudbury, Ontario, Canada P3E 2C6 Phone: (705) 675-1151 ext. 4357 Fax: (705) 675-4855 E-mail: [log in to unmask] __________________________ * For further information on FICOSSER or the General Conference, please contact Dr. Bui Dang Ha Doan, FICOSSER General Secretary, by e-mail, at <[log in to unmask]>.