Amman, Sept. 8 (Petra) -- Under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Muna Al Hussein and in the presence of Her Royal Highness Princess Zein bint Al Hussein and Dr. Adham Rashad Ismail, Officer-in-Charge of the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, the High Health Council, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), launched a national initiative to develop Jordan’s Vision for Human Resources for Health (HRH) at the Primary Health Care (PHC) level.

The initiative represents an important step towards strengthening the health workforce as a cornerstone for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and building a more resilient, equitable, and people-centered health system.

The high-level strategic meeting brought together representatives from relevant government institutions, health sector leaders, academic institutions, professional councils and associations, development partners, and civil society organizations to initiate a national dialogue on the future of Jordan’s primary health care workforce. Through a participatory and multisectoral approach, the initiative aims to establish a shared national vision to guide human resources for health planning and investment over the next 10 to 15 years.

Jordan has made significant progress in expanding access to primary health care through an extensive network of Ministry of Health facilities serving communities across the Kingdom. However, demographic changes, the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases, lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, and increasing demand for high-quality health services highlight the need for a long-term strategic approach to strengthening the health workforce and ensuring its readiness to meet current and future health needs.

The initiative aligns with Jordan’s Economic Modernization Vision, launched under the patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein, and supports the country’s Universal Health Coverage and Health Security Roadmap, which recognizes primary health care as the foundation of a strong and resilient health system.

The initiative also contributes to the strategic priorities of the World Health Organization in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, particularly the Regional Director’s flagship initiative on investing in the health workforce as a critical driver of stronger, more resilient health systems. Jordan’s efforts to develop a national vision for human resources for health align with this regional direction by strengthening strategic health workforce planning, building workforce capacities, and ensuring readiness to respond to evolving health needs.

In support of the initiative, Her Royal Highness Princess Muna Al Hussein said, "Investing in our health workforce is not merely an investment in the health sector; it is an investment in our nation’s future, prosperity, and well-being. Now more than ever, we must place health workers at the heart of our national health agenda and work together to build a workforce that is prepared, supported, and empowered to meet the needs of present and future generations."

She added that the initiative aims to develop a comprehensive national vision to strengthen the primary health care workforce across all relevant cadres, including physicians, nurses and midwives, allied health professionals, community health workers, public health professionals, and managers and support staff working within primary health care settings. The process will include a comprehensive assessment of the current health workforce, broad stakeholder consultations, a review of regional and global best practices, and the development of a practical roadmap for implementation.

The vision will focus on strengthening health workforce governance and leadership, improving workforce planning and forecasting, enhancing education and continuous professional development, promoting equitable recruitment and retention strategies, integrating community health workers into the health system, and leveraging digital health solutions and innovation to support workforce development.

WHO Representative to Jordan, Dr. Iman Shankiti, reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to supporting Jordan in strengthening its health workforce as a cornerstone of resilient health systems and universal health coverage. "A resilient health system begins with a resilient health workforce. Developing a long-term vision for human resources for health is an investment in better health outcomes, stronger primary health care, and universal health coverage. WHO is proud to support Jordan in building a workforce that is skilled, motivated, and equipped to meet the evolving health needs of every community."

She emphasized that developing a national vision for human resources for health will help align workforce planning, education, policies, and investments with Jordan’s evolving health priorities, ensuring that the country is better positioned to address future health challenges while advancing equitable access to quality primary health care for all.

The development of the vision will follow an inclusive and consultative process involving government institutions, academic institutions, professional councils, civil society organizations, and development partners. The process is expected to result in a nationally endorsed vision and implementation roadmap that will support evidence-informed decision-making, strengthen coordination among stakeholders, and contribute to achieving universal health coverage and advancing Jordan’s national health priorities.

Through investing in its health workforce and strengthening primary health care, Jordan reaffirms its commitment to building a sustainable, resilient, and people-centered health system that delivers quality health services for all. This initiative also contributes to WHO’s regional efforts to advance investment in health workers as a key driver for achieving universal health coverage and improving health outcomes across the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

//Petra// AH

08/09/2026 21:32:07