WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel

Overview

The WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel, approved by Member States in the Sixty-third World Health Assembly Resolution WHA63.16, is intended to be a core component of bilateral, national, regional and global responses to the challenges of health personnel migration and health systems strengthening,

The objectives of the Code are:

• to establish and promote voluntary principles and practices for the ethical international recruitment of health personnel, taking into account the rights, obligations and expectations of source countries, destination countries and migrant health personnel;
• to serve as a reference for Member States in establishing or improving the legal and institutional framework required for the international recruitment of health personnel;
• to provide guidance that may be used where appropriate in the formulation and implementation of bilateral agreements and other international legal instruments;
• to facilitate and promote international discussion and advance cooperation on matters related to the ethical international recruitment of health personnel as part of strengthening health systems, with a particular focus on the situation of developing countries.

The Code is voluntary. Member States and other stakeholders are strongly encouraged to use the Code. The Code is global in scope and is intended as a guide for Member States, working together with stakeholders such as health personnel, recruiters, employers, health-professional organizations, relevant sub-regional, regional and global organizations, whether public or private sector, including nongovernmental, and all persons concerned with the international recruitment of health personnel. The Code provides ethical principles applicable to the international recruitment of health personnel in a manner that strengthens the health systems of developing countries, countries with economies in transition and small island states.