Since the beginning of 2025, WHO has assisted countries across the Western Pacific in managing 72 acute health emergency events, emphasizing that a capable workforce is the foundation of any effective response. This commitment is reflected in initiatives such as the Global Health Emergency Corps, which aims to strengthen expertise and readiness across the region. During the Asia Pacific Health Security Action Framework Stakeholders Meeting held from 25–27 November 2025, WHO leadership highlighted the essential role of a skilled, agile and deployable emergency workforce.
At the meeting, Member States assessed regional gaps in emergency workforce capacities, noting challenges such as limited trained personnel, fragmented coordination and difficulties in mobilizing response teams quickly. Participants emphasized that strengthening emergency readiness requires robust national health workforce systems rooted in primary health care, with clear roles, long-term strategies and strong links between routine services and emergency preparedness.
Country representatives from Viet Nam and Lao PDR illustrated how data-driven assessments are informing reforms to strengthen emergency workforce systems. Viet Nam is addressing gaps identified through a 2025 Joint External Evaluation, which revealed that its Public Health Emergency Operations Centre lacks formal legal status and sufficient trained emergency management personnel. The country plans to integrate its multi-hazard PHEOC framework into law and develop nationwide accredited training programs for multidisciplinary responders. Lao PDR, drawing on repeated emergency experiences, is investing in training programs—including field epidemiology courses—to build a more capable workforce for timely and effective public health response.
The meeting’s outcomes aim to enhance communication, leadership alignment and coordinated action during emergencies. Leaders emphasized the importance of investing in interconnected emergency leadership capable of mobilizing resources and uniting stakeholders when rapid action is needed. Through the APSHAF platform, countries will work to strengthen regional emergency workforce readiness by enhancing partnerships, applying data-driven capacity reviews, conducting joint simulations and developing shared data and communication systems.
By prioritizing workforce development, collaboration and systems-level preparedness, countries across the Asia Pacific region aim to build a resilient, well-trained and interoperable network of responders that can protect both regional and global health security.s
