79th WHA Constituency Statements
Four of the supporting organisations - FIP, ICN, WMA and WorldPhysio - are in the World Health Professions Alliance, with 47 million health professionals and an MoU with WHO.
An economy of health for all is impossible without sustained, strategic investment in the people who deliver health. There is no economic prosperity or population health without a skilled, supported, protected and adequately-resourced health workforce. Health workforce is an essential pillar of sustainable, effective healthcare systems; with accelerating population ageing, demand for healthcare services will increase.
Addressing the global health workforce crisis requires long-term, sustainable strategies that prioritise workforce well-being as a core system investment, put more women in leadership roles and address health worker mobility equitably. Investments should be guided by research evidence, and the health workforce’s perspective, to identify effective workforce policies. The health and well-being of health personnel directly influence quality of care, patient safety and economic productivity. Neglect leads to higher turnover, absenteeism, preventable errors or unavailability of medical devices, imposing significant and recurring costs on national economies. In contrast, investing in workforce well-being and education improves care quality and safety, strengthens retention, enhances system resilience and delivers substantial economic returns.
The economic evidence is clear. Every dollar invested in health systems generates returns of $2-4USD. Higher health workforce density is associated with longer life expectancy, improved productivity, and sustained economic growth.
Health innovation and macroeconomic strategies must prioritise public health value, equity, and population needs, strengthening primary health care, health promotion and workforce capacity globally. This statement’s signatories support the adoption of the draft strategy.