Violence against health workers persists across the Americas, PAHO warns

Violence against health workers continues to undermine the well-being of care providers and the functioning of health systems across the Americas, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) warned during a regional seminar on the issue, according to a press release. The event, held on 24 September 2026, gathered around 400 participants from 34 countries, including health authorities, specialists, and representatives of professional associations. Attendees agreed that the problem remains underreported and, in many cases, normalized in workplaces. As part of the initiative, PAHO launched a new fact sheet titled Preventing violence against health workers in the Region of the Americas. The publication targets policymakers, health managers, health professionals, and other key stakeholders.

According to an international systematic review cited in the fact sheet, around 62% of health workers worldwide have experienced some form of workplace violence. Verbal abuse, reported by 58% of respondents, is the most common form of non-physical violence, followed by threats (33%) and sexual harassment (12%). A multicountry study conducted in 22 countries, including 20 in Latin America, found that 66.7% of surveyed health workers had faced some form of aggression during the previous year. Physical violence was reported in roughly one out of every ten incidents. Women, who make up nearly 70% of the health workforce, are particularly exposed to sexual harassment and other forms of violence.

A problem beyond health services

Violence directly affects the physical and mental well-being of health workers and can contribute to burnout, absenteeism, staff turnover, and difficulties in retaining trained personnel. Risk factors include excessive workloads, long waiting times, staff and resource shortages, communication difficulties, and challenging working conditions. Community insecurity, armed violence, organized crime, and emergency or conflict settings may further worsen the situation. Violence can also occur between co-workers, including bullying, discrimination, and sexual violence, often reinforced by rigid hierarchies. Nurses and other frontline professionals are among the most exposed groups due to their continuous contact with patients and communities.

Prevention and reporting gaps

“Violence against health workers should not be considered an inevitable part of the job. It is a public health issue, a human rights issue, and a challenge for the effective functioning of health systems,” said Silvana Luciani, Chief of PAHO’s Noncommunicable Diseases and Violence Prevention Unit. A significant share of incidents go unreported due to fear of retaliation, lack of confidence in institutional mechanisms, and the perception that violence is part of daily work. Participants stressed the need to strengthen reporting and monitoring systems and establish safe, confidential, and accessible channels. “What is not reported remains invisible,” said Leidy Villanueva, from Colombia’s Ministry of Health and Social Protection. Britta Monika Baer, PAHO Regional Advisor on Violence Prevention and Response, added that “violence can be prevented, and preventing it requires comprehensive and sustained action.”

Protecting those who care for others

PAHO stresses that primary responsibility for prevention rests with states, employers, and health institutions, with coordinated involvement from professional associations, worker organizations, academic institutions, and communities. The fact sheet outlines measures such as legal and policy frameworks, safe reporting systems, improved facility security, staff training, medical and psychosocial support, and data collection. PAHO also highlights coordination among the health, security, justice, education, and labor sectors. The publication notes that only 26 of the 195 WHO Member States have national occupational health and safety policies specifically targeting health workers. The seminar’s final message was clear: violence against health workers is not inevitable and can be prevented.