A number of global and regional strategies, resolutions and documents provide strategic guidance for health workforce development at regional and national levels.

The "Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030", adopted by the World Health Assembly in May 2016, outlines policy options for WHO Member States, responsibilities of the WHO Secretariat and recommendations for other stakeholders.

The "WHO Global Strategic Directions for Strengthening Nursing and Midwifery 2016–2020" is the principal global guiding document for the development of nursing and midwifery in Member States. The launch of this document took place at the Global Forum for Government chief Nursing and Midwifery Officers on 18 May 2016, Geneva, Switzerland.

Building on the Global strategy on human resources for health and recommendations from the High-Level Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth, the Framework for action for health workforce development in the Eastern Mediterranean Region was endorsed at the 64th Regional Committee in Islamabad, Pakistan in October 2017 to address health workforce challenges in achieving universal health coverage and the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030 

WHO Global Strategic Directions for Strengthening Nursing and Midwifery 2016–2020 

Eastern Mediterranean framework for action on reforming medical education

Eastern Mediterrranean framework for action to strengthen nursing and midwifery (2016-2025) 

EM/RC66/R.3
Strengthening the nursing workforce to advance universal health coverage in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
English | Arabic | French

EM/RC64/R.1
Annual report of the Regional Director
English | Arabic | French

EM/RC62/R.4
Medical education: a framework for action
English | Arabic | French

EM/RC60/R.2
Universal health coverage
English | Arabic | French

EM/RC59/R.3
Health systems strengthening in countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region: challenges, priorities and options for future action
English | Arabic | French  

EM/RC56/R.10
A World Health Organization code of practice on the international recruitment of health personnel
English | Arabic | French

EM/RC55/R.5
Promoting nursing and midwifery development in the Eastern Mediterranean Region 
English | Arabic | French

EM/RC50/R.9
Accreditation of hospitals and medical education institutions
English |

EM/RC49/R.11
Health professions education
English | 

EM/RC45/R.12
Improving the quality of nursing and midwifery in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
English | 

EM/RC41/R.10
The need for national planning for nursing and midwifery in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
English | 

EM/RC35/R.10
Report on progress in health manpower development in the Region
English | 

EM/RC66/4
Strengthening the nursing workforce to advance universal health coverage in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
English | Arabic | French 

EM/RC60/Tech.Disc.2
Towards universal health coverage: challenges, opportunities and roadmap
English | Arabic | French

EM/RC59/Tech.Disc.1
Health systems strengthening in countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region:challenges, priorities and options for future action
English | Arabic | French

EM/RC56/Background paper
A World Health Organization code of practice on the international recruitment of health personnel  
English | 

EM/RC55/Tech.Disc.
Promoting nursing and midwifery development in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
English | 

EM/RC50/Tech.Disc.
Accreditation of hospitals and medical education institutions
English |

EM/RC49/Tech.Disc.
Health professions education
English |

EM/RC41/Tech.Disc.
The need for national planning for nursing and midwifery in the Eastern Mediterranean Region 
English | 

EM/RC35/Tech.Disc.
Report on progress in health manpower development in the Region
English | 

WHA75.17 Human Resources for Health
https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA75/A75_R17-en.pdf

WHA74.14 Protecting, safeguarding and investing in the health and care workforce
https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA74-REC1/A74_REC1-en.pdf#page=27

WHA73 (30) Huma Resources for Health
https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA73-REC1/A73_REC1-en.pdf#page=25

WHA72.3 Community health workers delivering primary health care: opportunities and challenges
https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA72-REC1/A72_2019_REC1-en.pdf#page=25

WHA 70.6
Human resources for health and implementation of the outcomes of the United Nations’ High-Level Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth | Arabic | French

WHA67.34
Follow-up of the Recife Political Declaration on Human Resources for Health: renewed commitments towards universal health coverage.pdf

WHA64.7
Strengthening nursing and midwifery [pdf 18.60kb]

WHA63.16
WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Migration of Health Personnel [pdf 32.35kb]

WHA62.12
Primary health care, including health system strengthening  [pdf 18kb]

WHA59.27
Strengthening nursing and midwifery [pdf 197kb]

WHA59.23
Rapid scaling up of health workforce production [pdf 193kb]

WHA57.19
International migration of health personnel: a challenge for health [pdf 23.21kb]

WHA54.12
Strengthening nursing and midwifery [pdf 11kb]

EB107.R2
Strengthening nursing and midwifery [pdf 11kb]

WHA49.1
Strengthening nursing and midwifery [pdf 66kb]

WHA48.8
Reorienting of medical education and medical practice for health [pdf 12kb]

WHA47.9
Maternal and child health and family planning: Quality of care [pdf 11kb]

WHA45.5
Strengthening nursing and midwifery in support of strategies for health for all [pdf 11kb]

EB87.R23
WHO Fellowships [pdf 10kb]

WHA43.19
The role of health research [pdf 12kb]

WHA42.27
Strengthening nursing and midwifery in support of strategies for health for all [pdf 11kb]

WHA36.11
The role of nursing/midwifery personnel in the strategy of health for all [pdf 9kb]

WHA30.48
The role of nursing/midwifery personnel in primary health care [pdf 11kb]

WHA3.67
Increasing and improving the supply and use of nurses [pdf 7kb]

WHA2.77
Expert committee on nursing [pdf 7kb]

Summary report on the Informal expert consultation on health professionals’ education, Cairo, Egypt, 3 June 2016

Summary report on the Meeting on the strategic framework for health workforce development in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Cairo, Egypt, 1–2 June 2016

Report on the Workshop on accreditation of medical education in Iraq: towards excellence in medical education and health care, Amman, Jordan, 31 March – 1 April 2016

Report on the Consultative meeting on development of a public health leadership programme and strengthening the network of academic institutions in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Cairo, Egypt, 13–14 December 2013

Report on the Regional consultation on accreditation of health professions education, Tunis, Tunisia, 22–25 November 2011

Nursing and midwifery

Summary report on the Expert group meeting on the regional framework for action on strengthening nursing and midwifery in the Eastern Mediterranean Region 2015–2025, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 25–26 March 2016

Summary report on the Expert group meeting on regulation of nurses, midwives and allied health professionals, Cairo, Egypt, 8–10 December 2015

Summary report on the Regional nursing forum: the future of nursing and midwifery in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Amman, Jordan, 24 April 2015

Report on the Expert group meeting for the development of a post-basic psychiatric nursing programme in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Amman, Jordan, 2–3 October 2013

Ninth Meeting of the Regional Advisory Panel on Nursing and Consultation on Nursing Education in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Amman, Jordan, 29 September–1 October 2013

WHO headquarters

Related publications

HRH Journal

Human Resouces for Health Journal

International associations of health professionals

International Confederation of Midwives

International Council of Nurses

International Pharmaceutical Federation

World Dental Federation

The World Medical Association

World Federation for Medical Education

Wonca Global Family Doctors 

Other organizations

The Capacity Project (HRH Action Framework)

World Directory of Medical Schools

Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research

Asia-Pacific Action Alliance on Human Resources for Health

Global Health Workforce Alliance

International Labour Organization

WHO collaborating centres

WHO collaborating centres global database

WHO collaborating centres on health workforce in the Region

WHO Collaborating Centre for Training and Research on Health System Management, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

WHO Collaborating Centre for Training in Research and Educational Development of Health Personnel at Department of Medical Education, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Karachi, Pakistan

WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Educational Development at Educational Development and Research Centre, Gezira Medial School, Wad Medani, Sudan

WHO Collaborating Centre for the Public Health Education and Training at Department of Primary Care and Social Medicine, Imperial College, University of London, London, UK  

WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing Development at College of Health Sciences, Manama, Bahrain

WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing Development at Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST), Irbid, Jordan

WHO Collaborating Centre for Education and Research in Nursing and Midwifery at Iran University of Medical Sciences, Teheran, Islamic Republic of Iran