Unfortunately, before SARS-CoV-2, a global workforce crisis in health care had already been flagged internationally and is only expected to grow. Health care workers are the critical driving force underpinning all health systems. A skilled workforce takes years to develop, and staff shortages have enduring negative impacts on patients, patient safety, and the ability to deliver Universal Health Coverage.

A scoping literature review on health care worker mortality and morbidity resulting from SARS-CoV-2 was undertaken and included reviewing the peer-reviewed and grey literature.

Four opportunities for improving the protection of health care workers during a pandemic were identified:

1. 1) Strengthening data collection and reporting standards of health care worker mortality and morbidity due to SARS-CoV-2

2. 2) Improving the protection of health care workers

3. 3) Accelerating the vaccination of health care workers against SARS-CoV-2, and

4. 4) Addressing gender inequities in health care

These four approaches provide opportunities for improvement and are only preliminary steps in addressing the ‘perfect storm’ that the shortage of global health care workers and the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic have created.

The global community has a unique opportunity to protect health care workers and improve pandemic preparedness and response. The health and socioeconomic impact of SARS-CoV-2 has been unprecedented, and health care workers have borne the brunt of this pandemic. We owe our health care workers more. Without a well-trained and adequately resourced health care workforce that is prepared to face the next pandemic, we as a global community will not be able to deliver global health care or global security at the level that is required.