8 November 2022—The 5 members of the WHPA have today signed an historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the World Health Organization (WHO). The agreement provides a framework for future collaboration between the partners, recognizing the need for multi-stakeholder partnerships to support the health workforce and address today’s public health issues.
The MoU was signed by WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Ghebreysus during a collegial ceremony at WHO headquarters in Geneva which was moderated by Director of the Health Workforce Department Jim Campbell. The Presidents and CEOs of FDI, ICN, FIP, World Physiotherapy and WMA signed as members of the WHPA.
During the ceremony, the partners discussed their shared goals in an increasingly challenging global public health landscape. For all present, the Covid-19 pandemic had thrown into sharp focus the pressing need to protect the health workforce and to strengthen health systems, including by providing better recognition, better workplace environments and decent working conditions for health and care workers. Specifically, the partners underscored the critical role of the health workforce in realizing universal health coverage.
Next steps to begin operationalizing the MoU will include defining a work plan and a schedule of regular meetings. Topics identified in the MoU for future collaboration are health workforce issues and universal health coverage, noncommunicable diseases, and ageing populations.