Comprehensive 10-year strategy to address the shortage of physicians in least developed countries

(a) In general The President, acting through the Director of the John E. Fogarty International Center for Advanced Study in the Health Sciences, shall establish a comprehensive, integrated, 10-year strategy to address the shortage of physicians in least developed countries. (b) Elements Such strategy shall maintain sufficient flexibility and remain responsive to the needs of women afflicted with childbirth-related injuries and shall include the following: (1) A plan for implementation and coordination of programs and activities under this Act, including grants and contracts for prevention, treatment, and monitoring of childbirth-related injuries. (2) Specific objectives, multi-sector approaches, and specific strategies to treat women who suffer from childbirth-related injuries and to prevent further occurrences of childbirth-related injuries. (3) Assignment of priorities for relevant executive branch agencies. (4) Public health and health care delivery system research on the prevention, repair, and rehabilitation of childbirth-related injuries. (5) Social science research in fields such as anthropology, sociology, and related fields to monitor and evaluate the underlying social and economic factors that contribute to childbirth-related injuries. (6) Development, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based systems of care connecting maternity care facilities with local care delivery and community education programs. Such systems of care should promote rapid and long-term prevention of childbirth-related injuries, including— (A) culturally appropriate childbirth education, preparation, and planning; and (B) access to obstetrician-gynecologists (OB–GYNs), urogynecology care, or midwifery care. (7) Expansion of training centers and partnerships with institutions of higher learning for medical students and residents. (8) Priorities for the distribution of resources based on factors such as the size and demographics of the population suffering from childbirth-related injuries, the needs of that population, and the existing infrastructure or funding levels that may exist to treat and prevent childbirth-related injuries, including obstetric fistula. (9) A plan for institutional capacity-building of partnerships to strengthen universities, research centers, health-profession training programs, and government institutes to build the in-country capacity needed to eradicate childbirth-related injuries in least developed countries. (c) Report Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to Congress a report that contains the strategy required under this section.