WHA72- 12.3 Human Resources for Health

THE WORLD MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, INC.
L’ASSOCIATION MEDICALE MONDIALE, INC
ASOCIACION MEDICA MUNDIAL, INC
Centre International de Bureaux FEIN : 13-2566243
Immeuble A “Keynes” Website : www.wma.net Postal Address :
13, chemin du Levant Telephone : (33) 4 50 40 75 75 Boîte Postale 63
01210 FERNEY-VOLTAIRE Fax : (33) 4 50 40 59 37 01210 FERNEY-VOLTAIRE Cedex
France E-mail address : wma@wma.net France
72nd
World Health Assembly
12.3 Human Resources for Health
Honourable Chairperson, Distinguished Delegates,
Thank you for the opportunity to speak on behalf of the World Medical Association, representing 9
million physicians around the world.
WMA supports WHO’s efforts to develop national health workforce accounts and monitor the
migration of health professionals (HP).
In many countries, including the wealthiest ones, we note a shortage of physicians. A major reason
for this gap is a failure to educate enough physicians to meet the health needs of the country’s
population. As a response for this shortage, many countries encourage international recruitment. We
emphasize the critical need to regulate those recruitments and call on Member states to implement
the international code for recruitment of HP.
The WMA acknowledges that temporary stays of physicians in other countries facilitate exchange
of medical knowledge, skills and attitudes for both the sending and receiving countries. The
exchange of HP is beneficial for the development of medicine and healthcare systems and in
general deserves the support of governments.
Physicians do have valid reasons for migrating, for example, to seek better career opportunities and
to escape poor working and living conditions, which may include the pursuit of more political and
personal freedoms and other benefits.
We therefore urge member states to refrain from coercive measures restricting the mobility of HP –
which have proven to be an unsustainable method for recruitment – and to respect their right to free
mobility. We believe that various strategies, such as socially accountable education and attractive
conditions to work in underserved areas, constitute more sustainable interventions on the long run.
Investing in the improvement of health care systems is a solid retention strategy for HP. Universal
health coverage can only be achievable with a multi-disciplinary health care team, with necessary
support by community health workers. This will deliver high quality care to patients and their
families.
Thank you,