Since the start of 2025, WHO has supported countries across the Western Pacific region in responding to 72 acute health emergency events, including potential disease outbreaks. Recognizing that the greatest asset in any emergency response is the workforce, WHO is dedicated to building a skilled health emergency workforce through initiatives like the Global Health Emergency Corps (GHEC).
Strengthening the health emergency workforce was therefore a key thematic area during the Asia Pacific Health Security Action Framework (APSHAF) Stakeholders Meeting for the Western Pacific, which took place from 25-27 November 2025. Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, reiterated the critical role of emergency workforce in addressing APHSAF participants: “A response is all the stronger when the workforce is skilled, agile, and deployable—able to respond to any threat anywhere, anytime.”
Leveraging data-driven reviews of emergency management capacities to strengthen emergency workforce
At the APHSAF Stakeholders Meeting, Member States confronted critical regional gaps in emergency workforce capacities including limited trained workforce capacity, fragmented coordination, and systems that struggle to mobilize response teams when crises occur.
Participants emphasized that strengthening these capacities requires a solid underlying health workforce system anchored in primary health care, with clearly defined roles and functions across health care worker groups and coordinated, long-term national workforce strategies that link routine primary care with emergency preparedness and response
Representatives from Viet Nam and Lao PDR shared country-specific examples of how they are using data-driven reviews of emergency management capacities to inform legislation and policies to enable an agile, and interoperable workforce.
Viet Nam: Dr. Vo Hai Son, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Health Viet Nam, shared how the country is addressing gaps identified in a 2025 Joint External Evaluation, which found that its Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) model lacks formal legal integration, thus limiting its authority and resources. Additionally, there are insufficient trained personnel in Public Health Emergency Management (PHEM). To remedy this, Vietnam plans to formally embed the multi-hazard PHEOC framework into national legislation and create an accredited, long-term training curriculum for multi-disciplinary PHEM staff and EOC responders nationwide
Lao PDR: Dr. Sommana Rattana, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Health, Lao PDR shared how repeated experiences with public health emergencies had driven home the critical need for a well-trained workforce capable of ensuring timely and effective response. Lao PDR has invested in workforce development for public health emergency response through various trainings and short courses including the field epidemiology training program.
Pathway to a resilient, trained, and connected emergency workforce
The outcomes of the meeting will facilitate communication among leaders and promote information sharing and a coordinated agenda during an emergency. Dr Valerie Nkamgang Bemo, Deputy Director at the Gates Foundation, reiterated the value of investing in connected health emergency leadership and how health security demands interconnected leaders who can mobilize resources, align stakeholders, and drive action when every moment counts.
Through the APHSAF platform, countries across the Western Pacific will strive to advance regional emergency workforce readiness through a pathway to develop skilled, agile, and interoperable workforce capable of sustaining routine health services while ready to respond to any emergency. This includes:
- leveraging regional and global partnerships such as GHEC;
- using data-driven reviews of emergency management capacities;
- conducting joint simulation exercises; and
- developing shared data platforms and standardized communication protocols.
By investing in people, strengthening collaboration, and embedding preparedness into systems, countries across the Asia Pacific can build a connected, interoperable network of skilled responders that strengthen regional and global health security.