WHO Academy Inaugurated
18 December 2024
The recent inauguration of the World Health Organization (WHO) Academy in Lyon, France, marks a monumental step forward in advancing global health education and workforce development. As patients and health advocates, we are excited about the transformative potential of this initiative, which promises to address some of the most critical challenges facing health systems worldwide today.
The WHO Academy is set to revolutionize the way health professionals are trained, offering an unprecedented lifelong learning program that will equip workers with the essential skills, knowledge, and competencies to tackle the health challenges of our time. The Academy’s ambitious goal is to train millions of health professionals, policymakers, and public health leaders globally—particularly addressing the severe shortage of health workers, projected to reach 10 million by 2030.
As we all know, the lack of adequately trained health professionals is one of the biggest barriers to accessing essential health services, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This gap often results in compromised care, long wait times, and limited access to vital treatments. With the WHO Academy’s state-of-the-art campus and its accessible online platform, health professionals will be able to access world-class education in public health, equipping them to better serve communities, save lives, and improve health outcomes.
Through this initiative, the WHO aims to not only tackle the global shortage of healthcare workers but also to bridge the knowledge gap in public health, ensuring that the latest innovations and research in health—especially in areas like Artificial Intelligence—are available to those who need them most.
The Academy’s comprehensive curriculum will train a range of health professionals, from nurses and midwives to senior decision-makers and public health managers. By 2028, the Academy plans to train over 3 million healthcare workers and develop approximately 260 new courses, all of which will be freely available to health professionals around the globe via its online platform.
For patients, this means a future where health systems are more efficient, responsive, and accessible. The skills and competencies developed through the Academy will contribute directly to better care, particularly in underserved regions. More trained health workers will not only enhance the quality of services but will also play a key role in preventing future health crises—such as pandemics—by ensuring that healthcare systems are well-prepared to respond quickly and effectively.
We at the World Patients Alliance see the launch of the WHO Academy as an important step in creating a healthier, more equitable world for all. As patients, we are deeply invested in ensuring that health systems are equipped to meet the needs of diverse populations, and we believe the Academy will help pave the way for more effective healthcare globally.