In 2021, the WHO Health Workforce department and PAHO Sub-regional Programme for South America supported the development and analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on health workers and the policy responses via a number of country case studies. This discussion provides an overview of the paper, which includes a systematization of the policies and strategies adopted by the participating countries to face the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic on HRH from five South American country case studies: Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Participants will discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the health, occupational safety and working conditions of the HWF and on the strategies and mechanisms used by these countries to increase, maintain and protect human resources for health (HRH), in terms of their availability, training, protection, welfare, remuneration and financing.