COVID-19 has highlighted, unequivocally, the need for strengthened health and care workforce policies and systems globally. As Member States negotiate a new WHO Pandemic Agreement to ensure improved collaboration, coordination, and collective action for future pandemics, it is paramount to learn from the challenges experienced and vocalised by the health and care workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic. Article 7 of the negotiating text references the need to strengthen and support the health and care workforce. Indeed, most articles in the agreement are impossible to execute without major investments in the health and care workforce.

Veena Sriram, Leah Shipton, Julia Smith, Katrina Plamondon (2024) The Health and Care Workforce in the Pandemic Agreement: Championing Equity and Protecting Collective Capacity for Future Pandemics