UN Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth: Investing in health workforce will create jobs and drive economic growth

(14 October 2016) PSI General Secretary Rosa Pavanelli joined co-chairs, the President’s of France and South Africa, François Hollande and Jacob Zuma, as they delivered, on 21 September 2016, the final report of the UN High-Level Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth, to the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at the recent UN General Assembly in New York. Pavanelli was one of 24 Commissioners who set-out the recommendations of the report. One of the other 24 Commissioners to this UN High-Level Commission was European Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis, head of DG SANTE.

The UN Commission concluded that greater investment in health workforces is needed if progress is to be made towards the Sustainable Development Goals, including achieving gains in health, global security and inclusive economic growth. The Commission made 10 recommendations for realising the proposed gains. The report stated that investments in health employment can support economies and propel countries towards universal health coverage. PSI and EPSU strongly advocate for public investments.

According to the new UN report aging populations and increasing rates of non-communicable diseases are projected to generate – by 2030 – demand for 40 million new health workers worldwide. What they need are fair and decent terms and conditions, effective health and safety provisions and arrangements at the workplace, quality professional training and access to continuous professional development. There is ample evidence that these objectives can be better achieved and safeguarded if there is effective social dialogue between employers’ organisations and trade unions, and  if there is broad coverage of the health care sector and of the health workforce by national and/or sectoral collective agreements as well as workplace-related agreements.

For more information:  http://www.world-psi.org/en/un-commission-new-investments-global-health-workforce-will-create-jobs-and-drive-economic-growth

To read Rosa Pavanelli’s speech:  http://www.world-psi.org/en/psi-general-secretary-statement-2nd-comheeg-meeting