Editorial by Dr Eszter Kovacs | EHMA newsletter
28 February 2025
An editorial by Dr Eszter Kovacs, Member of the EHMA Board of Directors, written for the February 2025 edition of the health management newsletter.
Dear EHMA friends, colleagues and members,
Let’s take care of our heart! “The health workforce is the beating heart of any health system” – this is one of my favourite quotes, said by Dr Hans Kluge, the Regional Director of WHO EUROPE, some years ago. The COVID-19 pandemic doubtlessly validated this metaphor. Following his words, many experts have contributed to the mission of developing various aspects of the health workforce agenda in Europe and globally. All these efforts contribute to improved health workforce outcomes that eventually lead to better health outcomes for EU citizens.
In the last decade, a growing number of research studies have focused on human resources for health and aimed to explore conditions for a more effective and optimised operation of health systems. Emerging topics, such as the need for more advanced soft skills, the impact of AI and digitalisation on workflows, the benefits of task shifting and collaborative practice, building trust, or ensuring equity and mental wellbeing, are also thoroughly investigated – just to mention a few. Contemporary research results and data collections bring us closer to evidence-informed and data-driven health policies, as they integrate a more effective knowledge transfer of different lessons and practices.
The challenges regarding the health workforce are not new. Even though the pandemic exacerbated previously identified issues, we need to carefully monitor and anticipate current and future scenarios and address solutions for sustainable workforces. When considering workforce development, we can work with the main pillars of education, planning, management, and governance. The education pillar can easily overcome the mismatch of skills and improve the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of health workers following the latest advancements in health sciences. Education enables the attraction and improved career prospects of health professions, as well as empowers a more resilient staff. The strategic planning pillar combats the shortage and uneven distribution of professionals, shrinking supply and ageing of specific specialty groups, and intends to tackle the influence of migration. The governance pillar focuses on health workforce policies and aims to mitigate insufficient recruitment, issues of replenishment, and retention strategies, particularly in remote areas, so-called “medical deserts.” In agile management, recent dialogues have discussed the efficient organisation of work, e.g. breaking silos for interdisciplinary teamwork, integrated care, and appropriate utilisation of digital solutions. Finally, innovative and compassionate leadership can reduce the continuous pressure stemming from unattractive working conditions and create supportive working environments while caring for the physical and mental health of health workers.
Fortunately, a dedicated expert pool, several programmes, and initiatives direct attention to health workforce issues and target their development. One of the main drivers in Europe is the HEROES Joint Action (HEalth woRkfOrce to meet health challEngeS), co-funded by the European Commission. The HEROES Joint Action is a continuation of the previous Joint Action on Health Workforce Planning and Forecasting, as well as the SEPEN health workforce expert network. HEROES focuses on four key areas: health workforce data and data source optimisation, planning model and tool optimisation, capacity building and optimising planning skills, and finally, engaging and activating the decisive stakeholders. Nowadays, we see significant achievements in Member States regarding planning systems. Ten years ago, we could identify seven European countries with good practices in planning, but five years later, already 21 countries reported systematic planning activities. Brand-new evidence shows that countries like Lithuania, Sweden, and Slovenia reported an increase in health workforce-related data with improved quality. Countries like Estonia, Malta, and Slovakia are putting planning models in place and working on implementing tangible actions to move forward. All Member States participating in the HEROES Joint Action have improved their technical skills and capacities in planning over the last two years, and in the year ahead, they will continue formulating training and policy plans for sustainable health workforces in Europe. Such projects have enormous potential in exchanging practices and strengthening peer learning, even beyond electoral cycles.
Let’s keep steering health workforce development together in rapidly changing times, and let’s take care of our beating heart together, because health is a common responsibility!
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What our Members say
I have been active in EHMA since the first years of the '90s and I have seen its evolution from a small association of members interested in sharing knowledge on health management practices to the current status of reference and advisory key player for EU, health systems and organisations, stakeholders associations, industry and universities. EHMA is now a unique knowledge hub, policy advisor, community of practice and network of best in class organisations involved in health policy and management. A place where health managers can build their competences, policy-makers and stakeholder associations envision how to implement and sustain change through health management, industry leaders understand how to engage more effectively with health organisations and systems. The right place to nurture and grow health management capabilities and capacity for every stakeholder of health systems.
Prof. Federico Lega, University of Milan, Italy
Health management has a crucial function in shaping public health and health system challenges. The Medical University of Varna, Bulgaria had success in collaborating with EHMA on EU-funded projects that has resourced us to create new health management competencies for the future workforce. In addition to all classical definitions, health management is a science dealing with individuals, groups, and society at large. It is an art contributing to the beauty of our lives and an interactive communication process at all levels of institutions and human energy. I have also had the pleasure to chair the South Eastern European Special Interest Group which gives members a space to discuss and tools to address how health systems are managed in our regions.
Prof. Todorka Kostadinova, Medical University of Varna, Bulgaria
I enjoy the high level of interaction and engagement in EHMA’s activities, in particular during the annual conference where the panel discussions are rich and well prepared. As a hospital manager and professor of health management, EHMA motivates and inspires me to be creative. You go back home feeling energised from seeing old friends and making new connections, as well as being convinced of serving as EHMA’s ambassador. It’s a strong feeling of interdisciplinary engagement, but it also feels like being part of family-like community.
Prof. Sandra C. Buttigieg, University of Malta, Malta
EHMA is a pre-eminent organisation for everyone working in planning, managing and delivering health services across Europe. As a long standing member of EHMA I have always been impressed by the vibrant community of managers, researchers and academics it has created and by the many opportunities for sharing knowledge and funding opportunities it has brought to its members. Its international scope is impressive and its impact is often felt in management and research across European and national health systems.
Prof. Axel Kaehne, Edge Hill University, UK
Health workforce has become more essential in operating, managing and maintaining health systems lately, particularly in crisis and emergency situations. European healthcare professions and the workforce need to be high on the agenda of managers and decision makers. The Health Services Management Training Centre, Semmelweis University in Hungary is a longstanding EHMA member, because it connects us with collaborators and experts, with whom we can have complex debates, from whom we can learn and at the end find solutions in various challenging fields of healthcare management.
Dr Eszter Kovács, Health Services Management Training Centre, Semmelweis University, Hungary
As a hospital administrator and health management professor, I see on a daily basis that the healthcare challenges require talented and skilled managers to transform it. the EHMA membership has been beneficial to bring healthcare management research and education to the demanding healthcare services world, promoting healthcare management competencies and knowledge creation.
Dr Alexandre Lourenco, APAH - Association of Portuguese Hospital Managers, Portugal
Many healthcare systems in Europe and beyond are facing similar challenges which require innovative and creative solutions. EHMA’s annual conference, webinars, Programme Directors’ group and other activities and resources provide incredible opportunities for networking, connecting and sharing experiences. A distinct feature of EHMA is the diversity of members with representation from many countries, sectors and different communities of practice – academic, policy-makers, practitioners, managers, leaders and students. The annual conference is a highlight in the calendar year, offering a friendly, fun and learningful environment for emerging and established members to engage, collaborate and meet up with old and new friends. I am proud to be a member of the EHMA Board.
Prof. Ann Mahon, University of Manchester, UK
Society evolution, pandemics and ageing modify health needs. So, health policies and services are to change dramatically. EHMA, through webinars, workshops and annual conference provides an excellent insight to a professional changing world, favouring closeness to management innovation and the protagonists of these changes. As a primary care services’ manager, participating in EHMA activities is really worth it and allows to involve oneself in the innovation processes.
Dr Antoni Peris Grao, Consorci Castelldefels Agents de Salut (CASAP), Spain