WHO Member States adopted the Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel 10 years ago. This study assesses adherence with the Code’s principles and its continuing relevance in the WHO Europe region with regards to international recruitment of health workers. Data from the joint OECD/EUROSTAT/WHO-Europe questionnaire from 2010 to 2018 are analyzed to determine trends in intra- and inter-regional mobility of foreign-trained doctors and nurses working in case study destination countries in Europe. In 2018, foreign-trained doctors and nurses comprised over a quarter of the physician workforce and 5% of the nursing workforce in five of eight and four of five case study countries, respectively. Since 2010, the proportion of foreign-trained nurses and doctors has risen faster than domestically trained professionals, with increased mobility driven by rising East-West and South-North intra-European migration, especially within the European Union. The number of nurses trained in developing countries but practising in case study countries declined by 26%. Although the number of doctors increased by 27%, this was driven by arrivals from countries experiencing conflict and volatility, suggesting countries generally are increasingly adhering to the Code’s principles on ethical recruitment. To support ethical recruitment practices and sustainable workforce development in the region, data collection and monitoring on health worker mobility should be improved.
Like many countries Peru is confronting uncertainties due to the COVID‐19 pandemic and its consequences. This is having impacts not only on health systems but also on the planning and preparation of its workforces. In this case article we summarise the progress Peru has been making to improve its workforce capacity and planning and review how Peru has coped with the stresses put on its health system arising from the pandemic. By recounting the responses that the Ministry of Health made through mobilising existing capabilities, additional workers and collaboration with health science faculties and health professional colleges, the article identifies that a longer‐term planning perspective based on skills that services require is something that Peru may consider to compliment the health workforce investments that are already being made. As such, this case provides an example for workforce planners and policy makers to contemplate when considering health workforce planning in post‐COVID uncertainty.
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