Pandemic treaty needs fair deal for health workers
15 June 2022
June 15, 2022 – The absence of health workers from an international pandemic instrument under discussion today by country governments has caused alarm among organizations calling for a fair deal for health workers.
The Pandemic Instrument is a potentially legally binding treaty which all governments would use in preventing and responding to future pandemics. However, while the draft outline covers governments, products and patients, it does not cover health workers.
“The document under negotiation seems to protect everyone and everything except the health workers on whom we depend. It calls for strong health systems but doesn’t address problems which were starkly highlighted in the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We can’t have strong health systems without strong health workers and we can’t have global health security without security for health workers,” said Dr Magda Robalo, Global Managing Director of Women in Global Health.
“Health workers faced dangerous conditions without proper protections, they worked phenomenal hours in unrelenting shifts. Before the pandemic there was already a shortfall of 18 million health workers and now we hear more are leaving the profession.”.
“It is essential principles of fair and equal pay, as well as safe and decent work underpin the treaty so that frontline health workers, 90% of whom are women, can go back to work for the next pandemic with the necessary support in place. There is now a consequent and alarming ‘great resignation’ of health workers.”
The White Paper, dated June 7, 2022, sets out a strong intention to protect the public, set up governance and financing mechanisms and provide systems and countermeasures to future pandemics.
Women in Global Health have put forward recommendations to the paper for fair and equal pay, safe and decent working conditions and fit for purpose personal protective equipment and infection controls.
The Intergovernmental Negotiating Body, which includes the 194 member states of the World Health Assembly is in session today on the draft framing document which will govern the delivery of health for future pandemics. The instrument would enable countries around the globe to better prevent and respond to future Pandemics.
Join us in advocating for immediate action to include health workers on the Pandemic Instrument. Click on the following links to share, or just copy and paste directly to tweet posts:
The world needs women health workers and women health workers need the #INB to protect them in the #pandemictreaty.
Health workers need:
fair pay
equal leadership
decent work
safety
Join @womeningh’s call to action!
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Why would women health workers go back to work for the next pandemic if they continue to feel dispensable?
The #PandemicTreaty must deliver equal leadership, fair pay, and safe and decent work for health workers!
