Global nursing leaders issue urgent call for investment and action following International Workforce Forum in Japan

Nursing leaders from eight countries have issued a strong call for urgent, sustained investment in the global nursing workforce following the International Workforce Forum (IWFF), held in Yokohama, Japan on 3-4 February 2026.

Co-hosted by the International Council of Nurses (ICN) and the Japanese Nursing Association, the Forum brought together national nursing leaders to confront a growing global workforce crisis that threatens access to care and progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

President Tomoya Akiyama of the Japanese Nursing Association said:
“It was an honour to welcome nursing leaders from around the world to Japan at such a critical moment for global health. While our countries differ in context, we are united by the same urgent challenges - workforce shortages, increasing demand for care, and the need to better support and value nurses. This Forum has reinforced the importance of working together to build sustainable nursing workforces that can meet the needs of our populations now and in the future.”

The meeting took place against the backdrop of stark warnings from WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus that the world faces a shortage of 11 million health workers by 2030 - more than half of them nurses.

In a newly released communiqué, participants highlight that rising demand for care driven by ageing populations, increasing non-communicable diseases, and the lasting impacts of COVID-19 is colliding with worsening nurse shortages caused by poor working conditions, low pay, unsafe staffing levels, and limited career opportunities.

ICN Chief Executive Officer Howard Catton said:

“While there is some political recognition of the challenges nursing workforces face, recognition is not the same as action. This Forum made clear that what is urgently needed is the political will to commit to solutions and invest at the level required to support and sustain the nursing workforce.”

The communiqué sets out key priorities for action, including improving nurse retention through better pay and working conditions, ensuring safe staffing and skill mix, addressing unethical international recruitment practices, strengthening primary health care through advanced nursing roles, and protecting nurses from violence and harassment.

It also emphasizes the importance of investing in education, leadership, and data systems, while ensuring nurses are central to the design and governance of emerging technologies such as AI.

Crucially, Forum participants stress that without immediate and coordinated policy action, nursing shortages will continue to undermine patient safety, health system resilience, and global health goals.

ICN and national nursing associations reaffirmed their commitment to work with governments, WHO, and partners to implement these recommendations and to accelerate progress towards a sustainable, well-supported global nursing workforce.

The full IWFF Communiqué is available here