Declaration on the health and care workforce adopted in Bucharest

On Wednesday 22 March, Member States of the World Health Organization and other health actors adopted and signed the Bucharest Declaration on the Health and Care Workforce. It marks the commitment of governments, professional associations, research institutions, trade unions, civil society organisations and many others to work together to improve the supply of health and care workers, improve their retention and recruitment, and optimise their performance.

During a two-day conference in Bucharest, Romania, more than 250 participants from 50 countries in the European Region shared research findings, policy solutions and experiences relating to the health and care workforce challenges. Discussions covered a wide range of topics, including retention and recruitment, especially in underserved regions, mobility and migration, required investments and innovations in training and education, improving working conditions, protecting mental well-being of health and care workers and the urgent need to take more gender-responsive action.

As non-state actor in official relations with the WHO European Regional Committee, Wemos had the opportunity to help shape and co-sign the declaration. Our colleagues Aysel Rahimli and Corinne Hinlopen were present.

The Bucharest Declaration

The Bucharest Declaration marks the commitment of governments, professional associations, research institutions, trade unions, civil society organisations and many others to work together to improve the supply of health and care workers, improve their retention and recruitment, and optimise their performance. It also calls for strategic health and care workforce planning and increased and smarter public investments in workforce education, development and protection.

Challenges around health and care workers

All countries of the WHO European Region currently face severe challenges related to the health and care workforce, as highlighted in the WHO European Regional report ‘Time To Act’ (September 2022). Although the overall number of medical doctors, nurses and midwives in Europe increased between 2010 and 2020, the Covid-19 crisis is having devastating effects on the health and care workforce. The economic climate across Europe is having an impact on pay, attrition rates and the attractiveness of working in the health and care sectors. And the ageing of staff poses a threat to the sustainability of the workforce due to the challenge of replacing workers when they retire – in at least 13 countries, more than 40% of medical doctors are aged 55 or older.

The ambitions and aspirations in Bucharest Declaration will be integrated into a Framework for Action to be adopted during the 73rd European Regional Committee meeting in October 2023, which will be held in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Global health advocate Aysel Rahimli in Bucharest

Global health advocate Corinne Hinlopen in Bucharest