The World Health Professions Alliance delivered the following interventions at the 74th WHA which took place this week in Geneva.
Constituency Statement on Agenda item 17 and Agenda item 18 - WHPA stressed the importance of having a strong health workforce to support the world through any health emergency. WHPA urged 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) - WHPA commented on the action plan for health employment and inclusive economic growth and urged Member States to be bold when discussing a renewed mandate. WHPA suggested that we 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.
In addition, WHPA hosted a webinar on COVID-19 being classified and treated as an occupational disease.