Today, at the 69th World Health Assembly in Geneva, health ministers from around the world unanimously adopted the first-ever Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030.

The strategy underscores the central role health workers—particularly when operating within strong health systems—play in the health, social, and economic development of all nations. The strategy also highlights the need for better health workforce data and national health workforce accounts, linkages to the Global Health Security Agenda, and the urgency of responding to changing demographics and economies.

Delegates to the World Health Assembly urged the full implementation of the strategy by the World Health Organization and all actors at global, country, and community levels.

“Adoption of the Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health is a key milestone in the journey to strengthen health systems and achieve universal health coverage,” says Pape Gaye, president and CEO of IntraHealth International. “We look forward to supporting countries and institutions as they translate the strategy into actions that will close health equity gaps and provide all individuals, families, and communities the opportunity to thrive."

Today in Japan, G7 leaders also issued a statement and a new Vision for Global Health, which calls for a coordinated and consolidated effort to achieve universal health coverage. As the international community coalesces around the importance of the health workforce in achieving universal health coverage and the broader Sustainable Development Goals, implementation and accountability are becoming greater priorities for global advocacy efforts. The World Health Organization will begin implementing the Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health with an increased budget for its Health Workforce Department.

IntraHealth pledged its support in an official World Health Assembly statement read by Laura Hoemeke, director of communications and advocacy, which reiterated the triple-return of investments in health workers: better health outcomes, reduced risk from disease outbreaks, and the economic benefits of greater employment. 

“However,” Hoemeke says, “the strategy is only a document unless it is adequately resourced and accompanied by implementation plans at all levels.”