The global shortage of healthcare personnel remains a pressing issue, with an estimated shortfall of 10 million health workers projected by 2030. This shortage exacerbates global health inequities, leaving many low-income countries with inadequate healthcare resources. The WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel (WHO Global Code), adopted in 2010, is a pivotal framework aiming to mitigate this by establishing ethical standards in the international recruitment of health workers. However, the implementation of the Code has been challenging, especially in the face of growing demand for healthcare workers in high-income countries. Public Services International (PSI) surveyed its affiliates in 35 countries, representing health and care workers, to assess the implementation and effectiveness of the WHO Global Code.

The report brings new evidence to on-going discussions about standards of international recruitment practices in the health and care sectors. It aims to stimulate discussion about the contributions of public service trade unions and other state and non-state actors to achieving decent work, fair and ethical recruitment, rights-based and gender-responsive migration policies in defending universal access to quality public health and care services.