Health workers are INDISPENSABLE- - the cornerstone of health care delivery system, influencing access, quality and costs of health care, and effective delivery of interventions for improved health outcomes, including progress towards the achievement of the health Millennium Development Goals and Health For All.

Workforce Challenges:
 > Health Worker shortages
 > Imbalances in skill-mix and distribution
 > Low salaries and poor incentives
 > Attritions, including urban and external migration

Vital Strategic Measures to Overcome Workforce Challenges:
 > Country/context specific strategic actions
 > Effective partnerships and resource investments
 > Strong political commitment and leadership 

In accordance with World Health Assembly resolutions, Global Programme of Work, the Medium Term Strategic Plan 2008-2013 and the Regional Strategy on Human Resources for Health 2006-2015, WHO supports Member States in building and sustaining adequate, competent, productive and supported health workforce to meet population health needs.

Key areas of WHO support include, but not limited to:
> generate evidence, technical tools /guides for policy and strategy
    development, planning and management;
> education and training of health workers (both quantity and quality);
> improve standards of practice and ethics;
> enhance workforce performance and retention;
> advocacy, effective partnerships and networking.

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