Global health and care worker compact assessment tool

Overview

Health systems worldwide face persistent challenges in protecting, supporting and retaining the health and care workforce, challenges that were sharply exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. This document presents a structured assessment tool developed by WHO to support countries in evaluating the extent to which their laws, policies and governance mechanisms align with the Global health and care worker compact and related international labour and human rights standards.

The tool outlines a comprehensive framework organized across four domains—preventing harm, ensuring inclusivity, providing support and safeguarding rights—covering areas such as occupational safety, access to health services, protection from violence, fair remuneration, social protection and enabling work environments. It is operationalized through a set of indicators and guided questions that enable systematic, cross-sectoral review of national policy and legal environments. Designed primarily for governments and relevant stakeholders, it facilitates dialogue, identifies policy gaps and supports the development of evidence-based action plans. Its modular structure allows both rapid overviews and in-depth analyses, while also enabling periodic assessments, data aggregation and comparison to monitor progress and inform health workforce policy and planning.