[The politics of human resources in health]

In this article the term health manpower is applied to members of society who have acquired specific training and taken on responsibilities in health work. The different aspects of manpower development are viewed strictly from the standpoint of policy. They include the regulatory role of government and the influence of superstructure factors on decisions about health. There is a detailed discussion of the power relationships between decision-making groups and the organization of health services, and also of the role of knowledge as a power factor. The implementation of proposals on manpower depends on the operation of a sociopolitical process in which technical people who have the scientific ability and political sensitivity must participate to bring about changes that will benefit the majority.