WHO Europe conference on primary health care: strong health workforce is essential

On October 23, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Regional Office for Europe, UNICEF, and the Government of Kazakhstan will organize the international conference ‘Primary Health Care Policy and Practice: Implementing for Better Results’ in Astana, Kazakhstan. Wemos’ global health advocate Corinne Hinlopen has been invited to attend and give a reflection during the session ‘Health workforce policies to strengthen primary health care delivery’.

She will reflect on the interventions of the five panelists and linking to insights gained during the EU-funded project Action for Health and Equity: Addressing medical Deserts (AHEAD). Two essential insights are:
1) the need to improve support to health and care workers in rural and remote areas, and
2) the need to engage various population and professionals groups when initiating actions to solve medical deserts.

International Conference on Primary Health Care Policy and Practice: Implementing for Better Results

Session 3: Health workforce policies to strengthen primary health care delivery

• Date: October 23, 2023
• Time: 14:45 – 15:45 (local time) (10:45 – 11:45 CET)
• Location: hybrid (Astana, Kazakhstan and online)

More information in the provisional programme.

The international conference is an official side event of the 73rd session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe, which will take place from October 24-26, also in Astana. It is aimed at strategic health leadership at (sub)national levels shaping primary health care and service delivery transformation. Among others, the conference will identify policies and practices to future-proof primary health care transformation for moving towards universal health coverage. It will also celebrate the 45th anniversary of Alma-Ata and the 5th anniversary of Astana declarations on primary health care.

You can register to the online platform for the livestream of the hybrid conference and related engagement opportunities on this page.

73rd session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe

As a non-State actor in official relations with the WHO, Wemos will also attend the 73rd session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe in Astana. Together with six other non-State actors, we drafted a joint statement on the WHO European framework for action on the health and care workforce 2023–2030. In our statement, we urge member States to cease the international competition for skilled health workers, and to work together to improve working conditions for health workers so they can thrive in their professions and can deliver the best possible health care for all European citizens. We also strongly support the new Framework for Action and congratulate the WHO EURO member states on the resolution to intensify efforts to face the health workforce challenges affecting us all.

Visit this page for more information about the livestream and social media coverage of the 73rd session that will take place over the course of 3 days.

Photo credit: WHO