The Expert Advisory Group on the Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel (the Code) recommended that countries with the most pressing health workforce needs related to universal health coverage should be identified, and support and safeguards targeted at them. The Expert Advisory Group further called on leading destination countries and development partners, as well as others interested in providing health workforce related support and safeguards, to commit multi-year flexible funds towards implementation of the Code as a global public good. 

The fourth progress report on the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel: fourth round of national reporting, contained in document WHA75/14 noted that the negative health, economic and social impact of COVID-19, coupled with the increasing demand for health and care workers in high-income countries, might be increasing vulnerabilities within countries already suffering from low health workforce densities. Accordingly, the Expert Advisory Group was re-convened to review all countries with low workforce density to consider how disruptions related to COVID-19, particularly health-related vulnerabilities, might require the revision and extension of safeguards against active international recruitment.

The WHO health workforce support and safeguards list 2023 comprises 55 countries. These countries face the most pressing health workforce challenges related to universal health coverage. In particular, these countries have: 1) a density of doctors, nurses and midwives below the global median (i.e., 49 per 10 000 population); and 2) a universal health coverage service coverage index below a certain threshold. 

Report by the World Health Organization