The Recife Political Declaration on Human Resources for Health: Renewed commitments towards universal health coverage

Overview

The largest ever forum focusing on health workers and global health has concluded with a series of renewed commitments that will ensure more countries move with greater speed towards the goal of universal health coverage.

The commitments, both at the global and national level, harness political leadership on human resources for health - an area of public health often left sidelined on international development agendas - to the extent that real and lasting impact will be felt both by those on the frontline of delivering health care, as well as those on the receiving end.

Dr Marie-Paule Kieny, WHO Assistant Director-General for Health Systems and Innovation as well as Executive Director a.i. of the Global health Workforce Alliance, welcomed the formal adoption of the commitments in the 'Recife Declaration' on the final day of the Third Global Forum on Human Resources for health in Recife in Brazil.