Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030

Introduction

The Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030, adopted by the 69th World Health Assembly in 2016, represents a comprehensive framework to address the critical challenges facing the global health workforce. This strategy recognizes that an appropriately skilled, motivated and supported health workforce is essential for achieving the health-related Sustainable Development Goals and universal health coverage.

Background and Context

The health workforce is the backbone of health systems, delivering services to prevent, treat and manage diseases. Despite significant progress in recent decades, the world continues to face severe shortages of health workers, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The World Health Organization estimates a projected shortfall of 10 million health workers by 2030, mostly in low- and lower-middle-income countries.

This shortage is compounded by aging populations, the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases, emerging health threats, and inequitable distribution of health workers between and within countries. Many countries also face challenges with health workforce education, skill mix, management, and retention.

Key Strategic Objectives

The Workforce 2030 strategy sets forth several key objectives to guide global and national efforts:

Policy Options and Interventions

To achieve these objectives, the strategy proposes various policy options and interventions across four main areas:

Education and Training

• Align health worker education with population health needs and labor market demands
• Adopt competency-based education approaches and strengthen accreditation systems
• Promote interprofessional education and collaborative practice
• Expand quality training opportunities in underserved areas
• Invest in faculty development and educational infrastructure

Employment and Working Conditions

• Create decent jobs with fair remuneration and career development opportunities
• Implement strategies to improve recruitment, retention and equitable distribution
• Ensure safe and enabling working environments
• Develop effective human resources management systems
• Promote gender and social equity in the health workforce

Leadership and Governance

• Strengthen governance, leadership and management capacity at all levels
• Promote participatory policy development involving all relevant stakeholders
• Facilitate knowledge sharing and South-South collaboration
• Ensure alignment of health workforce policies with broader health and social policies
• Implement effective health workforce information systems for planning and monitoring

Health System Strengthening and Partnerships

• Integrate health workforce development within broader health system strengthening efforts
• Promote domestic and international partnerships for health workforce development
• Enhance coordination among various stakeholders and sectors
• Leverage technology and innovation to support health workforce development
• Align donor support with national health workforce strategies and priorities

Implementation Framework

The strategy emphasizes a country-led and country-driven approach, recognizing that each country has unique challenges, priorities and contexts. Implementation of the strategy rests on three pillars:

1. Policy dialogue: Engaging all stakeholders in developing and implementing comprehensive health workforce policies and strategies
2. Institutional arrangements: Strengthening institutions at national and sub-national levels for effective health workforce governance
3. Technical support: Providing countries with technical assistance and knowledge exchange opportunities

The strategy also emphasizes the need for strong monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to track progress towards achieving the strategic objectives and related indicators.

Global Health Targets

The Workforce 2030 strategy aligns with and supports the achievement of several global health targets, including:

The Role of International Cooperation

International cooperation remains crucial for implementing the Workforce 2030 strategy, particularly for countries with significant health workforce challenges. The strategy calls for:

• Enhanced domestic and international financing for health workforce development
• Support for low-income countries in implementing comprehensive health workforce strategies
• Adherence to the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel
• Strengthened mechanisms for South-South and triangular cooperation
• Enhanced coordination among all global health actors

Looking Forward

As we approach 2030, several emerging issues and trends have significant implications for the global health workforce:

• The growing impact of climate change on health and the need for climate-resilient health workforces
• The rapid advancement of digital health technologies and the implications for skill development
• The changing nature of health professions with new specialties and roles emerging
• The increased recognition of the importance of mental health and the need for specialized workforce development
• The lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic regarding crisis preparedness and resilience of the health workforce

Conclusion

Investing in the health workforce is not just an investment in health systems but an investment in socioeconomic development, equity and prosperity. The Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030 provides the roadmap for countries and international partners to work together to ensure that all people have access to the right health workers, with the right skills, in the right place, at the right time.

Success will require renewed political commitment, increased resources, strengthened partnerships and sustained efforts to implement the policy options outlined in this strategy. By working together, the international community can build the health workforce needed to achieve global health goals and ensure health and well-being for all.