Harnessing Innovation to Empower the Health Workforce for NCDs

Health systems globally are at a breaking point. Their ability to deliver Universal Health Coverage (UHC), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), tackle the rising burden of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) or combat future pandemics depends upon the availability of well-trained and equipped healthcare professionals. The growing burden of NCDs and population ageing will generate demand for 40 million additional health workers globally by 2030, requiring the global health workforce to effectively double in order to avoid a shortfall of 18 million workers. And whilst healthcare systems wrestle with shortages of staff and increasing demand for care, the landscape for healthcare delivery is also changing, with greater use of digital and remote care, and with specialization in the management of conditions.

Meeting today’s and tomorrow’s health systems’ needs requires addressing three main challenges: the lack of financial resources, the diverse challenges in the recruitment and retention of adequate human resources for health, and the limited awareness of the role of innovation and digital health and tools (as well as relevant skills to leverage those).

This session will focus on discussing practical solutions to unlock the full potential of innovation and digital tools to alleviate shortages, build the workforce of the future and therefore accelerate the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 3, Health for All.