Building a resilient oncology workforce in the Asia–Pacific: From outcomes to systems thinking in workforce well-being

Five years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, health workers worldwide continue to endure significant, ongoing strain. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2025 global assessment reported that 63% of country offices observed job-related impacts on health workers1. Initially an acute crisis characterized by equipment shortages, overcrowded facilities, and rapidly evolving protocols, the pandemic has evolved into a protracted systemic challenge. Complementary analyses from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) indicate that nearly 40% of physicians under the age of 55 report burnout, with over 10% intending to leave clinical practice2.