An adequate, well-distributed, motivated and supported health workforce is essential to strengthen primary health care, progress towards universal health coverage (UHC), detect, prevent and manage health emergencies, and promote the health and well-being of the population. Health workers are also critical for attaining the health targets in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 (health and well-being).

The Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030 outlines the importance of addressing all aspects of health workforce development, such as planning, education, management, retention, incentives, linkages with the social service workforce, and adopting a multisectoral approach. In addition, the Global Strategic Directions for Nursing & Midwifery (SDNM) 2021-2025, endorsed in the seventy-fourth World Health Assembly, highlights the global need for urgent investments in nursing and midwifery and provides policy priorities to optimize the contribution of nurses and midwives to achieving UHC.

WHO Western Pacific Regional Office supports Member States in developing a strategic vision and long-term strategic planning for the health workforce, generating evidence to support responsive policy decisions, improving health workforce data availability and use, strengthening health workforce regulation and regulatory functions, and aligning high-quality workforce education with health needs. For instance, the sixty-eighth Regional Committee adopted the “Regulatory strengthening and convergence of medicines and health workforce" agenda item. Since then, the Regional Office has been helping Member States to develop clear legislative frameworks, capable regulatory bodies and strong linkages between education institutions and regulatory bodies.