WHO Adopts Code on International Recruitment of Health Personnel

Member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) have adopted a new voluntary global code on health worker migration. The Code seeks to help countries address the twin challenges of managing migration and improving the retention of health workers, who are in short supply in many nations. Many migrant health workers face abuses at the hands of recruiters and employers. The Code seeks to protect the rights of migrant health workers, while improving health systems worldwide. MacArthur supported the Aspen Institute and Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative, which provided technical assistance to the advisory group working with the WHO on drafting the Code.