Washington, D.C., June 29, 2023 (PAHO/WHO)- The Executive Committee of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) approved the proposed Health Workforce Policy 2030: Strengthening Human Resources for Health for Resilient Health Systems.
The Policy was developed through consultation with the Member States, highlighting the importance of the countries expressing their priorities and needs for strengthening their human resources in health.
The purpose of this Policy (EC172/14) is to provide Member States with strategic and technical guidance for developing and implementing strategies and initiatives aimed at strengthening human resources for health (HRH) so that these resources can contribute to developing resilient health systems. The objectives seek to make effective progress so that the countries of the Region can recover the public health achievements that were affected during the pandemic and get back on track to meet the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
The policy promotes actions grouped into the five strategic lines of action described below.
-
Strengthen governance and promote national policies and plans for human resources for health
-
Develop and consolidate regulatory mechanisms related to human resources for health
-
Strengthen the formation of interprofessional teams and their integration into integrated health services networks based on primary health care
-
Enhance workforce capacity-building to address population health priorities and support public health emergency preparedness and response
-
Promote decent working conditions, protection of the physical and mental health of health workers, and an adequate supply of human resources for health through financing and regulation
"Human resources have been key to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and remain critical to the ongoing social and economic recovery; they are also essential to building the resilient health systems of the future," said James Fitzgerald, Director of the Department of Health Systems and Services, in presenting the document to the Executive Committee.
During his speech, James Fitzgerald recalled that, despite the progress achieved, challenges remain, especially regarding the availability and distribution of health personnel; planning; governance; intercultural, gender, and income equity among personnel; coordination between sectors; and training, in accordance with the needs of health systems to universal access to health and universal health coverage.
This policy will contribute to achieving the PAHO Strategic Plan 2020–2025 objectives and the Sustainable Health Agenda for the Americas 2018–2030. The monitoring and assessment of this policy will be aligned with the results-based management frameworks of PAHO and WHO and with their performance, monitoring, and assessment processes. The Governing Bodies of PAHO will be informed of the progress made and the challenges encountered in implementing the policy through a progress report in 2027 and a final report in 2031.
The Executive Committee of the Pan American Health Organization began its 172nd session on June 26, 2023, to examine various resolutions, strategies, and policies in preparation for PAHO's 60th Directing Council next September, to improve the health of populations of the Americas.
