EB154 Constituency Statement: WHO's work in health emergencies (Agenda Item 14)

While the Alliance is pleased to note the inclusion of new clauses in the WHO Pandemic Agreement to protect the safety of health professionals during emergencies, we remain concerned that the Agreement does not require ethical international recruitment, decent work, the due protection of employment, economic and social rights, consistent with applicable international obligations and guidelines.

WHA76 Constituency statement: Strengthening WHO preparedness for and response to health emergencies (Agenda Item 15.1)

WHPA’s recent report "What the Covid-19 pandemic has exposed" highlights the evidence and knowledge gathered by its five organizations on the impact of the pandemic on health professionals worldwide. We emphasize the urgent need to protect and safeguard health professionals and thus to improve the resilience of health systems in health emergency planning and response, and to strengthen mental health and psychosocial support for health professionals, both during and after pandemics and emergency situations.

EB152 Constituency Statement: Universal health coverage (Agenda Item 5)

To progress on UHC, there must be adequate and sustainably financed health workforce development, with a focus on integrated service delivery for primary health care. Governments and employers must provide this workforce with positive practice environments, especially during emergencies. We also welcome the call for national health systems to be inclusive of civil society.

EB152 Constituency Statement: Strengthening WHO preparedness for and response to health emergencies (Agenda Item 12.1)

The WHPA appreciates the proposal to establish a Global Health Emergency Council and underlines that civil society organizations must be involved in its work. We strongly support the development of a cohesive multidisciplinary and professionalized health emergency workforce. We emphasize the need for decent, safe, and responsive working conditions for the health workforce to deliver better health outcomes.

WHA75 Constituency statement on agenda item 14.1: Follow-up to the political declaration of the third high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases

We are concerned by the inadequate access to quality NCD care and its insufficient inclusion in essential health benefit packages. 122 countries reported a disruption of NCD care due to the COVID-19 pandemic in a survey to WHO. If the burden of NCDs is to be effectively addressed, it is imperative to adopt a collaborative, interprofessional, community-based and person-centred approach.

WHA75 Constituency statement on agenda item 15. Human resources for health

The delivery of high-quality health services depends on environments that support decent work conditions. Throughout the pandemic, healthcare personnel have worked long hours, faced unwarrantable violence and worsened mental health in high-pressure environments. Under-investment has resulted in the deterioration of working conditions. The “protection and performance” of the HWF requires legally binding strategies to guarantee the safety of health personnel especially in high-risk settings, including rural areas.

Constituency Statement on Agenda item 17 and Agenda item 18

Having a strong health workforce is key to supporting the world through any health emergency. We urge Member States to heed the Independent Panel’s urgent call to take immediate action to stop the pandemic and to follow recommendations to ensure that any future infectious disease outbreak does not become another catastrophic pandemic. In particular, countries must invest in preparedness now, and support their health professionals accordingly.

Joint Intervention on Item 15: Health workforce - Working for health: five-year action plan for health employment and inclusive economic growth (2017–2021)

We thank WHO for the DG’s report on the action plan for health employment and inclusive economic growth and urge Member States to be bold when discussing a renewed mandate. This should leverage the International Year of Health and Care Workers, focusing on the need to retain, protect and invest in the health workforce for COVID-19 recovery and into the future.

WHA72 Agenda Item 12.3 on Human Resources for Health - Global Strategy on human resources for health: workforce 2030

May 2019 - WHPA welcomes the report on the WHO Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030, and echoes the encouragement given to Member States to report data and approve streamlined reporting. We stress that health professionals are here to help and are key stakeholders in improving quality of care and health systems. We encourage states to work with all cadres of health professionals in order to better understand, prepare and plan for the existing and future needs of their communities and health systems.

WHA71 Intervention on Public Health Preparedness and Response

May 2018 - WHPA welcomes the Director General’s report on WHO’s work in Health Emergencies emphasizing not only the alarming number of critical emergencies, but also the fact that healthcare professionals and facilities are increasingly attacked during situations of armed conflict – a clear violation of international humanitarian and human rights law.

WHA71 Intervention on mHealth

May 2018 - WHPA is convinced that the success of mHealth in improving access to and efficiency of healthcare services ultimately depends on the quality of care delivered by healthcare professionals (HCPs).

WHA71 Intervention on Health, Environment and Climate Change

May 2018 - Healthcare professionals have a professional and ethical duty to contribute to the mitigation of the risks that climate change pose and to support people and communities to adapt to its impacts. WHPA works to enable our professions to support healthcare organisations to contribute to climate change mitigation through implementation of environmental policies and sustainable practices.

WHA71 Intervention on Draft thirteenth general programme of work, 2019–2023

May 2018 - WHPA insists that interprofessional collaboration is a prerequisite for people-centred services, in order to avoid duplication, gaps and discontinuity of care in the patient’s journey through the health system. Interprofessional collaborative practice requires opportunities to interact meaningfully with other professions from early on in a professional’s development, such as during undergraduate education.

WHA70 Intervention on Promoting the Health of Migrants

May 2017 - WHPA highlights that late or denied treatment is discriminatory and contravenes a fundamental human right. Refusing to provide healthcare is not only ethically wrong, it poses a serious public health threat. Therefore, WHPA urges full access to quality healthcare as well as safe and adequate living conditions for all are ensured, regardless of migration status.

EB140 Agenda Item 8.7 - Promoting the health of migrants

January 2017 - WHPA welcomes WHO’s efforts in promoting migrant health and wish to highlight that late or denied treatment is discriminatory and contravenes a fundamental human right. Refusing to provide healthcare is not only ethically wrong, it poses a serious public health risk.

EB140 Provisional Agenda Item 8.1 Human resources for health and implementation of the outcomes of the United Nations’ High-Level Commission of Health Employment and Economic Growth

January 2017 - WHPA strongly supports the Commission’s report including the ten recommendations and five specific actions and the clear statement it has made on investing in health. Health is a strong driver of the economy, not an economic drain – a strong and resilient healthcare system offers secure jobs, helps countries to better overcome economic crises and respond to catastrophes and contributes to social justice and stability.

WHA69 Intervention on health workforce and services

May 2016 - As health professionals, WHPA welcomes the Draft Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health (HRH). It recognizes the crucial role of the health workforce (HW) in realizing the goal of universal health coverage (UHC) and successful achievement of the SDGs.

EB138 Agenda Item 10.1 - Health workforce and services

January 2016 - The WHPA welcomes the Draft Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health, recognizing the crucial role of the health workforce (HW) in preparing health care system to manage the challenges of the future and achieve the newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals.

EB138 Agenda Item 5.3 - Framework of engagement with non‐State actors

January 2016 - WHPA argues that requiring NSAs in official relations with WHO to ensure “the Membership of an NGO should not contain individuals associated with private sector entities or philanthropic foundations and academic institutions not at arm’s length with private sector” is unrealistic to fulfil for individual membership‐based NGOs.