What's Happening?
On International Nurses Day 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) spotlighted the critical role of nurses and midwives in strengthening global health systems. The WHO Academy emphasized both the progress in the global nursing workforce and the persistent
inequalities that threaten universal health coverage (UHC). According to the State of the World’s Nursing 2025 report, the global nursing workforce has grown from 27.9 million in 2018 to 29.8 million in 2023. However, this growth is uneven, with 78% of nurses concentrated in countries that represent only 49% of the global population. This disparity poses a significant challenge to global health planning, as many regions remain under-resourced, affecting access to essential care. The Global Network of WHO Collaborating Centres in Nursing and Midwifery is central to addressing these issues, supporting WHO programs and strengthening research, training, and health system capacity worldwide.
Why It's Important?
The highlighted disparities in the global nursing workforce have significant implications for global health security and the achievement of universal health coverage. The concentration of nurses in certain regions leaves large parts of the world under-resourced, potentially slowing progress toward UHC and weakening global health security. Addressing these gaps requires coordinated international efforts, shared experiences, and sustained collaboration across countries and institutions. The WHO's focus on strengthening the nursing and midwifery workforce is crucial for ensuring that health systems can meet evolving health needs and improve service delivery worldwide. This initiative is vital for empowering nurses and midwives, who are essential to saving lives and improving health outcomes globally.
What's Next?
The WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Development at the University of Technology Sydney is leading policy dialogues across 13 Pacific island nations to prioritize workforce challenges in line with the Global Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery (SDNM) goals. In the Caribbean, regional strategies are being updated with the help of the Caribbean Community Regional Nursing Body. In Europe, collaborating centres are developing a sub-regional SDNM framework for Central Asian states. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to translate findings from the State of the World’s Nursing 2025 report into actionable policy. The WHO Academy in Lyon, France, is positioned as a global center of excellence for learning and health workforce strengthening, aiming to extend high-quality training and support continuous development for nurses and midwives.
Beyond the Headlines
The WHO's efforts to address global nursing gaps highlight the importance of international collaboration in health workforce development. The evolving cooperative model, including the launch of the 'Principles of Partnership framework,' blends Pacific knowledge systems with Western participatory action research methods. This approach is being used to enhance nursing and midwifery education across the Pacific region. The institutional shift of the WHO Office of the Chief Nurse and the WHO Health Workforce department to the WHO Academy underscores the organization's commitment to linking data, policy, and practice across the health workforce. By fostering a global network of collaboration, the WHO aims to empower nurses and midwives to respond effectively to health challenges in every community.
