Nursing expert appointed to United Nations commission

A professor of nursing has been chosen to sit on a new United Nations commission on health employment and economic growth.

Canadian Judith Shamian, president of the International Council of Nurses, will join the UN secretary general's high-level commission, which will be co-chaired by French president Francois Hollande and South African president Jacob Zuma.

The delegation will explore how to stimulate the creation of health sector jobs. The global economy is projected to create about 40 million health sector jobs by 2030, mostly in middle- and high-income countries, but there is a projected shortage of 18 million health workers in low- and lower-middle-income countries by the same date. The commission will consider how to tackle this inequality. 

'It is an incredible honour for me personally, but also for the nursing profession, to be chosen as a member of this high-level commission,' said Dr Shamian.

The delegation is seeking input on areas such as the creation of new jobs and investment in health sector employment.

To make a submission before the deadline of April 11, click here