Latest News

11 March 2024
30 January 2024
18 November 2023
13 November 2023

Latest Statements

11 March 2024—The WHPA has issued a press release announcing its Open Letter which calls for the safeguarding of healthcare facilities and personnel in areas of conflict, in accordance with international law.
6 November 2023—The WHPA continues to successfully represent the interests of health professionals in the negotiations to develop a WHO instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, delivering the following statement at the seventh meeting of the pandemic treaty's Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB).
13 October 2023—The WHPA has released a statement on the treatment of health professionals in the conflict which erupted in Israel and Gaza last week calling for all parties  to protect and respect access to healthcare and ensure the safety of civilians and healthcare workers.
3 April 2023—The WHPA has issued a press release to mark the publication of a WHO-WHPA report which provides strong evidence of the extent of damage caused to healthcare professionals during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Latest Interventions

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.
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.
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.
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.