Understanding the WHO health workforce support and safeguards list 2023

Abstract

Health workforce challenges hinder progress towards universal health coverage, improved health outcomes1 and health security. The global health workforce shortage is declining,2 but progress is slower in the African and Eastern Mediterranean regions and Small Island Developing States. International migration of health workers, when not adequately managed, can exacerbate pre-existing inequalities, further depleting the availability of health workers in countries already affected by shortages.

To mitigate these challenges, the World Health Assembly adopted in 2010 the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel. The code has two major objectives: first, to guide international cooperation in the ethical management of health worker migration; second, to catalyse action and investment in the health systems of developing countries facing health workforce shortages.3 One of the core provisions of the code is to discourage active international recruitment from low- and middle-income countries affected by workforce challenges.

In 2020, an independent review of the relevance and effectiveness of the code documented its continued relevance, as international migration of health personnel has continued to rise.4 As to effectiveness, examples of successful implementation exist, but also areas where the code's impact could be increased. For example, one of the review's recommendations was to regularly update the list of countries facing severe health workforce challenges.