Development, management and support of care workers

Overview

Strong primary health care-oriented systems depend on an integrated health and care workforce capable of delivering continuous, people-centred services across diverse settings. As countries face workforce shortages and growing demand for care associated with ageing, disability and chronic health conditions, care workers need to be better integrated into health workforce planning and policy.

This resource provides evidence-informed policy options to help countries plan, develop, manage and support paid and unpaid care workers providing personal care in homes, health services and residential settings. Drawing on a realist synthesis literature review and advice from a global WHO Advisory Group, it covers 20 thematic areas across the entry, working and exit stages of the workforce lifespan. It also addresses gender equality, migrant status and employment settings as cross-cutting equity and human rights concerns. Intended for policy-makers and planners across health and related sectors, the document identifies stronger governance of education and training and improved working conditions, including fair wages and social protection, as priority measures for stabilizing and expanding the care workforce while advancing labour rights, gender equality and people-centred health systems.