A literature review on the issues of management and development of human resources for health care that are currently occurring with managers of medical organizations in different countries. The review includes materials available in Scopus, Web of Science, WHO (IRIS) and OECD (iLibrary) databases through 2010-2017. Influence of economic crisis is discussed in terms of state health care policy and solutions on workforce optimization. Strategies to solve problems related to workforce security, personnel management and patient satisfaction have been analyzed, implemented both by health care workers and managers and by the international community. The strengthening of human resources in different countries is carried out through various methods, the main task of which is to correlate the supply of workforce with the needs of the population through competent planning at all stages of the life cycle of human resources, increasing productivity, developing leadership and stimulating workers. Authors' model of balanced development of human resources for health to improve health care efficiency takes into account interests, motivation and needs of health care system and medical professionals. While keeping the balance of these stakeholders interests, opportunities open up to increase the availability of medical services with a reasonable balance of financing and labor costs.