The SDG agenda gives recognition to Universal Health Coverage as key to achieving all other health targets. SDG 3c sets a target to "substantially increase health financing and the recruitment, development, training and retention of the health workforce in developing countries, especially in least developed countries and small island developing States." To this effect, WHO and its partners developed the Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030 (GSHRH) to accelerate progress towards UHC and the SDGs by ensuring equitable access to health workers within strengthened health systems. Resolution (WHA69.19) urges Member States to consolidate a core set of HRH data with annual reporting to the Global Health Observatory, as well as progressive implementation of National Health Workforce Accounts to support national policy and planning and the GSHRH's monitoring and accountability framework.

The data presented in the Global Health Workforce Statistics database are processed data extracts of the national reporting in the NHWA data platform. Complementing the national reporting, additional sources such as the National Census, Labour Force Surveys and key administrative national and regional sources are also employed. Due to the several data sources, considerable variability remains across countries in the coverage, periodicity, quality and completeness of the original data. The health worker occupations are classified according to the latest version of the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO - 08).

When citing data from the Global Health Workforce Statistics, please acknowledge appropriately the source of the original data. Suggested reference: The National health Workforce Accounts database, World Health Organization, Geneva (https://apps.who.int/nhwaportal, https://www.who.int/activities/improving-health-workforce-data-and-evidence).

In case of any queries or comments please write to the Health Workforce Statistics team.