78th WHA Individual Statements
13.7 Health and Care workforce
Health and care workers face moral distress when they cannot deliver ethically sound, compassionate care, especially palliative care. They suffer psychological harm when they know what care is needed but lack the training, resources, or institutional support to provide it. The COVID-19 pandemic magnified this crisis, exposing a workforce unprepared to support dignified dying.
When palliative care is absent or inaccessible, health professionals experience emotional conflict, burnout, and moral injury, leading many to leave the profession. This worsens workforce shortages, disrupts essential services, and undermines UHC goals. Palliative care reduces moral distress and supports the right to health. Policies must address root causes, invest in inclusive planning, and ensure system-level accountability to protect the well-being of care providers and patients alike.