WHO published an August 5 clarification on its Health Workforce Support and Safeguards List, which guides ethical international recruitment from countries with pressing workforce needs. For nurses considering migration, or working for employers that recruit abroad, the list shapes policy expectations. It doesn't stop an individual nurse from taking a job in another country.
What changed
The new WHO questions-and-answers page explains how countries are added to the list and how governments and employers should interpret the Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel. WHO says the code is voluntary and that countries on the list should receive stronger safeguards and support.
WHO also rejects a common misreading of the 49 doctors, nurses and midwives per 10,000 threshold: it's a listing threshold, and national and local needs differ.
What it means for you
The safeguard is aimed at recruitment policy. If you're considering an international move, that distinction matters: an employer's ethical obligations and your freedom to pursue a job are separate questions.
The broader imbalance remains sharp. WHO reports 29.8 million nurses worldwide in 2023, while 78 percent worked in countries containing 49 percent of the world's population. A recruiting campaign can fill vacancies in one system while deepening strain in another.
What to watch
Watch whether recruiting countries and health systems publish measurable support for source countries, published contract terms, and worker protections. The list's effect depends on what governments and employers do with voluntary guidance.
Source: World Health Organization, August 5, 2026.