Managing health workforce migration - The Global Code of Practice
Health worker migration has been increasing worldwide over the past decades, especially from lower income countries with already fragile health systems. To address this challenge, the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel was adopted by the 63rd World Health Assembly on 21 May 2010. This groundbreaking instrument marks the first time that WHO Member States have used the constitutional authority of the Organization to develop a code in thirty years.
WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel
The Code aims to establish and promote voluntary principles and practices for the ethical international recruitment of health personnel and to facilitate the strengthening of health systems. Member States should discourage active recruitment of health personnel from developing countries facing critical shortages of health workers. The Code was designed by Member States to serve as a continuous and dynamic framework for global dialogue and cooperation.
User's guide
This User’s Guide aims to provide a concise overview of the Code and to help readers understand its content. It explains the context in which it has been developed and teases out its main messages. It targets all stakeholders concerned with or interested in the international recruitment of health personnel.
Implementation strategy
This document outlines a strategy for WHO to support Member States and all interested stakeholders to advance rapid and effective implementation of the Code.
Code archives
- Designation of national authority for implementation of the Code
- March 2011 - Public hearing on the draft guidelines for monitoring the implementation of the WHO Code
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Timeline
pdf, 277kb -
Background paper
pdf, 97kb
To facilitate discussions - nationally, regionally and globally - the Secretariat has prepared a background paper to assist WHO Member States in considering the development of a WHO code of practice on the international recruitment of health personnel. -
Sixty-third World Health Assembly document A63/INF.DOC./2
Information document prepared at the request of the 126th Executive Board in order to facilitate discussion by the 63rd World Health Assembly of the draft code of practice on the international recruitment of health personnel. -
Sixty-third World Health Assembly, document A63/8 - Report by the Secretariat
International recruitment of health personnel: draft global code of practice – Report by the Secretariat. - Written comments from Member States
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Resolution WHA57.19 [pdf 23kb]
International migration of health personnel: a challenge for health systems in developing countries - September 2008 - Public hearings on the draft code of practice on the international recruitment of health personnel