Health workforce

Public hearing on the draft guidelines for monitoring the implementation of the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel
21 March to 17 April 2011

The implementation of the Code is crucial to coordinating a global response to the international recruitment and migration of health personnel. Through an online public hearing, special consideration was given to the guidelines for monitoring the implementation of the Code. These guidelines provide a blueprint for Member States to follow in carrying out their reporting efforts for the Code's implementation at the country level. Overall, the proposed structure and content of the guidelines were approved by Member States and other stakeholders.

Twenty-three Member States participated in the public hearing.

Summary of comments received from Member States

  • The reporting process would permit the introduction of evidence-based interventions to manage the international migration of health personnel that are generated from the results of country monitoring.
  • Over time, Member States should broaden and expand their monitoring and reporting capacity, as well as improve their human resources for health information systems.
  • As there may be potential difficulties in collecting the required data, it is critical to ensure that Member States fully understand that the reporting is not an “all or nothing” initiative.
  • Regular reporting on implementation could identify gaps between existing data and data requirements; countries could plan annual monitoring for their own use.
  • Given the workload involved in the preparation of reports, particularly within federated states, it is important to leave room in the guidelines for Member States to report their country-specific priorities and timelines for their implementation of the Code.
  • A whole range of stakeholders should participate in the preparation of reports given the variety of issues to be addressed and the diversity of possible sources of information.
  • Collaboration between Member States and other stakeholders could diminish possible conflicts between reports. The WHO should clarify the procedure to be used should such conflicts arise.
  • The WHO should play a central role in elaborating on common definitions through its continued work with the OECD.
  • The proposed minimum data set (MDS) and its reporting process (a core minimum of required data on doctors, nurses and midwives that is supported by additional variables and the progressive extension of the MDS to include data for other health professionals) are supported.
  • There is a concern about the definition of data to collect in the perspective of their comparability between Member States.
  • It is important to clarify the ongoing nature of the reporting process.

Full contributions

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