The international mobility of health workers is growing—with significant implications. While countries of destination—like the UK, Canada, and the US—benefit from foreign-trained professionals, countries of origin—many of which are low- and middle-income—often face workforce shortages, weakened health systems, and setbacks to universal health coverage. At the same time, many of these same countries are experiencing a “paradoxical surplus” of health workers who cannot find employment, highlighting major labour market and investment constraints.
But there is growing momentum to address these imbalances. The World Health Organization has updated its Global Code of Practice due to be considered at the 2026 World Health Assembly, and new evidence from the UK’s Proportionate Co-Investment Inquiry highlights the substantial benefits that internationally-trained health workers bring to high-income countries, like the UK. This creates a timely opportunity to improve how these dynamics are being managed in practice.
Held on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly, this CGD event co-hosted with the World Bank, OECD, IOM and Global Health Partnerships, will bring together policymakers and experts to discuss how health worker mobility can be managed more ethically and sustainably. The discussion will examine options such as ethical recruitment frameworks, bilateral arrangements, and financing and partnership mechanisms. It will also explore how to build political momentum and mobilise country of destination leadership.
Welcome Remarks
Ben Simms, Chief Executive of Global Health Partnerships
Contributors
Margaret Caffrey, Technical Director Health Systems, Global Health Partnerships
Manjula Luthria, Senior Economist, Social Protection Labor and Jobs Global Practice, World Bank
Albert Domingo, Undersecretary and Chief of Staff, Department of Health (Philippines)
Dr Beccy Cooper, Labour MP for Worthing West, UK
Panellists
Agya Mahat, Technical Officer, Health Workforce, World Health Organization (WHO)
Elizabeth Warn, Head Labour Mobility Division, International Organization for Migration (IOM)
Jim Campbell, Professor of Practice in Health Workforce, King’s College London
Fatima Kyari, Registrar / CEO, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN)
Dr Ouma Oluga, Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Ministry of Health, Kenya
Additional speakers TBC
Moderator
Helen Dempster, Policy Fellow & Co-Director, Migration and Displacement Programme, Center for Global Development (CGD)
Closing Remarks
Jean-Christophe Dumont, Head of the International Migration Division, OECD
