Access to health workers who are fit for purpose, motivated and protected is a fundamental force of health service delivery and the achievement of universal health coverage and the health and health-related Sustainable Development Goals. Data and knowledge of the distribution, skill mix and future development needs of the health workforce can mean the difference between enabling or impeding health systems performance, inclusive economic growth and global health security preparedness and response
This handbook is an essential resource, which brings into focus key advances, challenges and lessons learned in strengthening human resources for health data and evidence as a strategic objective of implementing the Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030, the recommendations of the United Nations Secretary-General’s High-level Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth, and in the achievement of the WHO Thirteenth General Programme of Work targets, for a measurable impact on population health and development. It features the committed country efforts, catalysed by networks and partner investments, in strengthening human resources for health information systems and their growing success in implementing WHO national health workforce accounts.
The handbook constitutes the collaborative efforts of the six technical groups that make up the Global Health Workforce Network Data and Evidence Hub, illustrating the instrumental value of networks and partnerships in strengthening the collection, quality and use of health workforce data and evidence. Its key purpose is to reinforce a culture of data and evidence-informed policy and decision-making in the governance and management of the health workforce and the health labour market. It can be used in conjunction with the WHO Health labour market analysis guidebook and its approach to understand the forces that drive health worker shortages and surpluses, skill mix, geographical imbalances and suboptimal performance, and develop effective policies to address these issues.