Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf appointed as WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Health Workforce
In his opening remarks to the Seventy-second World Health Assembly, WHO Director General, Dr Tedros announced the appointment of Her Excellency (H.E.) Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as Goodwill Ambassador for the health workforce.
WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel and the third round of national reporting
"Investing in health workers, both their education and employment, has been a central feature of this year’s assembly. During discussions on primary health care, emergency preparedness and response, emergency care services and other items member states have identified the absolute necessity for a multidisciplinary team responsive to population health needs. The key will be turning this realization into action across all countries."
Jim Campbell, Director, WHO, Health Workforce
Installation on health workers by artist Dairo Vargas at
72nd World Health Assembly
The Secretariat presented aggregate findings across WHO regions, as derived from the third round of national reporting to assess the relevance and effectiveness of the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel. As at March 2019, 80 Member States had submitted a national report. The 80 Member States concerned represent over two thirds of the world’s population, and 26 of the 80 countries were reporting for the first time.
The report evidences strengthened Member State engagement with the Code. Member State reports point to escalating international mobility of health workers, with increasing complexity in movement. The report found that countries that may previously have been identified as source countries are themselves reliant on foreign-trained health workers. In addition to strengthened evidence and information, 64 WHO Member States have requested technical support from the Secretariat to better manage international health worker mobility.
Implementation of the WHO Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030
Summarizing progress in the implementation of the WHO Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030, the WHO Global Strategy on human resources for health report, which was noted by Member States, provided details of progress made in respect of various resolutions: on health workforce strengthening; on strengthening nursing and midwifery; as well as the implementation of the outcomes of the United Nations’ High-Level Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth.
According to the report, countries are making progress on strengthening their health workforces, turning data into guidance that helps governments invest appropriately in health sector education and employment. The report also revealed a positive trend around the world on increased public sector investment in the health workforce. Member States were encouraged to continue reporting national data on human resources for heath to support tracking of the Sustainable Development Goal target of increasing investment in and numbers of trained health workers. Such data also allows WHO to track and report on progress against the milestones of the Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health, and the Working for Health five-year action plan.
Community health workers delivering primary health care: opportunities and challenges
A new resolution was approved by Member States which recognizes the contribution made by community health workers to achieving universal health coverage, responding to health emergencies, and promoting healthier populations. It urges countries and partners to use WHO’s guideline on health policy and system support to optimize community health worker programme, and to allocate adequate resources. At the same time, the WHO Secretariat is requested to collect and evaluate data, monitor implementation of the guideline, and provide support to Member States.
Community health workers have a key role to play in delivering primary health care – they speak local languages and have the trust of local people. They need to be well trained, effectively supervised, and properly recognized for the work they do, as part of multi-disciplinary teams. Investing in community health workers generates important employment opportunities, especially for women.
2020: International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife
The Assembly designated 2020 as the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, in celebration of the 200th birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale.
In addition, several other topics on the Assembly agenda were intricately related to human resources for health (HRH), such as health in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Primary health care towards universal health coverage, emergencies, polio, patient safety and Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health.
Health workforce events
Investing in Jobs - Technical briefing - watch the recording
Addressing the shortfall of 18 million health workers - Read more on the 6 key messages
Related links
- Health workforce photos from the week
- Document A72/13: Community health workers delivering primary health care: opportunities and challenges
- Document A72/23: WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel: third round of national reporting
- Document A72/24: Global strategy on human resources for health: workforce 2030
- Document A72/54: Year of the Nurse and the Midwife