Doctors and nurses are not just medical service providers, but also the pillars of a healthy society, Azerbaijan's Health Minister Teymur Musayev said at an event titled "Developing the healthcare workforce for preparedness and response to the health impacts of climate change," held as a part of COP29, Report informs.
"Preparing healthcare professionals is a long and expensive process, and there is a shortage of healthcare workers globally," Musayev stated. "As in many developing countries, one of the main problems in Azerbaijan is the lack of doctors and nurses in rural areas. The problem is particularly acute at the community level in primary healthcare, which forms the basis of any effective healthcare system."
Musayev noted that the development of climate-resilient healthcare workers encompasses many aspects, including medical education reform, postgraduate education, and targeted strategies to retain medical professionals in remote areas. "This also includes efforts to encourage healthcare workers to live and work in underserved regions. This is not just a matter of strategic planning, but also a human rights issue. People deserve to live in safe conditions where their health needs are met," he emphasized.
The minister stressed that priority should be given to mitigating the health impacts of climate change. "Key activities include building low-carbon, sustainable healthcare systems, developing 'green hospitals,' and training climate-resilient healthcare workers. These are essential components of a sustainable and healthy future. Ensuring sustainability in climate and health activities is very important for incorporating health into the core of the climate agenda. The climate agenda is now inseparable from the health agenda," Musayev said.
He acknowledged that developing a climate-resilient healthcare workforce is a complex and multifaceted task. "It requires intensive training, providing social and economic support to medical workers, raising awareness, and implementing various other measures. Time and sustained funding are needed to achieve this goal. However, with the cooperation of national and international partners, I am confident that we can succeed in building a healthier, more sustainable future for our people," the minister concluded.