WHO Africa Leads Vital Consultation to Revise Global Health Worker Recruitment Code

On 30 July 2025, health experts from across the World Health Organization’s African Region convened virtually for a critical consultation addressing a growing crisis: the mass migration of trained health workers from Africa to wealthier nations. The stakes could not be higher. Across the continent, hospitals grapple with severe nursing shortages, clinics operate understaffed, and young medical graduates face agonizing decisions between serving their communities or seeking better livelihoods abroad. This issue goes beyond policy discussions—it impacts families, communities, and the very foundations of African health systems.

Alarming Health Workforce Drain Across Africa

From Praia in Cape Verde to Port Louis in Mauritius, governments and healthcare professionals alike are raising urgent alarms. African nations are losing disproportionate numbers of their skilled health personnel to overseas recruitment, fueled by booming global demand following the COVID-19 pandemic. While other regions benefit from an influx of trained workers, Africa bears the cost of depleted human resources, undermining its health service delivery and long-term development.

Revisiting the WHO Global Code of Practice

In response, the WHO Regional Office for Africa has launched an ambitious series of consultations with all 47 Member States to revisit and update the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel. First adopted in 2010, the Code was designed to promote ethical recruitment and fair treatment of health workers globally. However, after fifteen years, changing dynamics and intensifying workforce challenges require a fresh look—and Africa is determined to ensure the revised Code fully reflects its realities and priorities.

Dr. Adelheid Werimo Onyango, Director of Health Systems and Services at WHO Africa, emphasized the importance of these consultations: "This is a critical opportunity for African countries to shape the Code so that it becomes a living, actionable instrument—one that safeguards our health systems by ensuring recruitment practices are fair, sustainable, and context-sensitive."

Gathering Voices from 30 Countries

The consultation convened representatives from 30 African countries who engaged in deep discussions to:

1. Review findings and recommendations from the Expert Advisory Group assessing the Code’s current relevance and impact.

2. Propose concrete recommendations to strengthen the Code’s effectiveness in addressing both present and emerging health workforce migration challenges.

3. Build regional consensus around priorities and unique factors that must be incorporated into the updated Code to reflect Africa’s complex health landscape.

The Human Toll Behind the Statistics

For many participants, the issues were deeply personal. Testimonies included stories of rural clinics left empty as nurses and experienced specialists take up overseas contracts in Europe or the Gulf region overnight. They painted a stark picture of overstretched facilities striving to deliver care with fewer and fewer hands.

Dr. James Avoka Asamani, Health Workforce Team Lead at WHO Africa, highlighted the significance of these contributions: "Your insights are the foundation for building a stronger and more equitable health workforce across Africa. By sharing your realities, you help ensure the revised Code addresses the real challenges faced on the ground."

Linking to Broader Regional Commitments

Several delegates referenced the Africa Health Workforce Investment Charter, which warns that without effective migration management, the continent faces a shortfall of 6.1 million health workers by 2030. They stressed that the revised Code must transcend aspirational principles and include enforceable guidelines that can resist aggressive international recruitment practices that drain vital talent.

A Regional Leadership Role in Global Policy Reform

The heart of these consultations is not just regulatory reform—it is about protecting the people behind the healthcare statistics. The African midwife who trained hundreds of birth attendants only to see them emigrate. The young doctor torn between loyalty to community and the lure of better pay abroad. And ultimately, the millions of African families relying on quality healthcare delivered by professionals who remain committed to serving at home.

WHO will continue to collect feedback from the full African membership in the coming weeks. But one thing is clear: Africa is not passively waiting on global decisions. Instead, the region is leading the conversation on ethical recruitment, advocating for solutions that respect health workers’ rights while safeguarding the sustainability of African health systems.

Toward a New Path for African Health Workers and Communities

The consultations signal a growing recognition that health worker migration is not just a numbers game—it’s a human challenge demanding bold, collaborative, and context-driven solutions. By shaping the revision of the WHO Global Code of Practice, Africa aims to chart a new course—one that balances international recruitment with the urgent need to strengthen health systems at home, ensuring every African child, woman, and man has access to skilled, compassionate care.