Constituency statement made at the 79th World Health Assembly on 23 May 2026
Agenda item 15.5: Draft strategy on the economics of health for all
Four of the supporting organisations - FIP, ICN, WMA and World Physiotherapy - 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.
This constituency statement is supported by
- FIP International Pharmaceutical Federation
- ICN International Council of Nurses
- WMA World Medical Association
- World Confederation for Physical Therapy (World Physiotherapy)
- International Association For Dental, Oral, And Craniofacial Research
- Women in Global Health
- International Society of Nephrology
- International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations (IAPO)
- International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics
- World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists
- International Federation of Biomedical Laboratory Science
- World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA)
- Global Health Partnerships
- World Federation of Chiropractic
- Alliance for Health Promotion