World’s Health Ministers Approve Historic Global Health Workforce Strategy: Workforce 2030
By Scott Weathers, IntraHealth International
GENEVA – The world’s health ministers last week at the 69th annual World Health Assembly approved an unprecedented resolution on health workforce that included approval of the first ever global health workforce strategy called “Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030.”
The resolution acknowledges the importance of health workforce to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Universal Health Coverage (UHC), calling on member states to strengthen their health workforces. Although the resolution carries no binding actions, statements from member states including the United States reaffirmed the high-level priority given to health workforce and health systems strengthening.
Frontline Health Workers Coalition and IntraHealth International leaders and other global health experts hailed the resolution’s approval as a milestone moment in the effort to ensure sustainable and resilient health workforces that can save lives and respond to global threats:
#WHA69 adopts @WHO Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health #Workforce2030! Time for transformative action! pic.twitter.com/ZD7oepE5pc
— Tana Wuliji (@TanaWuliji) May 27, 2016
Overwhelming support for #Workforce2030 at #WHA69...now let's roll up our sleeves and make it reality! @GHWAlliance https://t.co/7lRE4uCwOO — Laura Hoemeke (@laurahoemeke) May 27, 2016
Also during the Assembly, the United Nations High-Level Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth began a call to build the evidence base for investing in health workforce. The expert panel is seeking contributions from all sectors, which can be accessed here.
Meanwhile in Japan, the G7 issued a new Vision for Global Health, that also highlighted action on supporting frontline health workers as a key area of focus.
Damali Inhensiko, Midwife from Uganda, receives a 2016 International Health Workforce Award from Dr. Ariel Pablos-Mendez, USAID Assistant Administrator for Global Health. Photo courtesy : United States Mission Geneva
Amidst the policy dialogue during WHA, the Global Health Workforce Alliance awarded several global health leaders for their achievements in health workforce, including Damali Inhensiko, a midwife and frontline health worker working alone in her clinic in rural Uganda. Inhensiko’s rousing speech culminated a watershed week for frontline health workers workforce, ensuring that the issue remain at the top of the global health agenda.
#Uganda midwife Damali Inhensiko receives @GHWAlliance award from @USAIDGH @ampablos #workforce2030 #WHA69 pic.twitter.com/K89jws696R
— U.S. Mission Geneva (@usmissiongeneva) May 26, 2016