Opening remarks
Background
The High-Level Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth ("the Commission") was established by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in March 2016, and was tasked to propose actions to stimulate the creation of health and social sector jobs as a means to advance inclusive economic growth.
The Commission was chaired by His Excellency the President of France,
Mr François Hollande, and His Excellency the President of South Africa,
Mr Jacob Zuma; and co-chaired by Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Mr Angel Gurría, Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and Mr Guy Ryder, Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO).
The Commission Report Working for health and growth: Investing in the health workforce was launched on 20 September 2016 and called for bold actions and urgent investments globally in order to prevent a projected shortfall of 18 million health workers, primarily in low- and middle-income countries, and help countries
to maximise the social and economic benefits of increased health employment.
The Commission concluded that investing in the health workforce is needed to make progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, including gains in health, global security and inclusive economic growth. The commission made 10 recommendations for realizing those gains, through appropriate investments in health employment that can power economies, move countries closer to universal health coverage and act as a bulwark against outbreaks.
The need for action is urgent. The Commission called for five immediate actions by March 2018 to secure commitments and accountability for accelerated health workforce investments. The first immediate action called upon the Vice-Chairs of the Commission from WHO, ILO and OECD to convene all relevant stakeholders by the end of 2016 to develop a five-year action plan.
Purpose
The purpose of the High-Level Ministerial Meeting is to agree on a five-year action plan for further consultation. This meeting will bring together governments, including the ministers of education, finance, health, labour and foreign affairs, and the permanent missions to the United Nations; employers, health worker associations and unions, civil society, global initiatives, agencies and multilateral organizations, regional organizations, financing institutions and the private sector engaged in health, education, youth, gender equality, decent work, and inclusive economic growth.
Program
The High-Level Ministerial Meeting program will feature visionary and high-impact decision-makers, leaders, innovators and investors representing all stakeholder groups to explore game-changing opportunities and actions that can and are being taken to implement the Commission’s recommendations. Interactive panels, roundtables and an investors forum will examine ways in which to translate the recommendations into actions. Participation in the meeting is by invitation only.
The Commission envisioned an action plan that sets out the strategies and activities, responsibilities of agencies and key stakeholders, resources requirements and operational indicators for the period 2017 – 2021 to support and facilitate country-driven implementation of the Commission’s recommendations, including a coordination mechanism to convene intersectoral expertise to steward and monitor progress.
Over 40 submissions were received in response to the ILO, OECD and WHO public online call for contributions. Stakeholders provided input on how they would take forward implementation of the Commission’s recommendations at national and international levels; and suggested potential roles that OECD, WHO and the ILO and its constituents should play to support and facilitate the implementation. Submissions will inform the five-year action plan that will be presented at the High-Level Ministerial Meeting for further consultation.
Contact ComHEEG@who.int for more information.
