Organizers and partners
The Health and Care Workforce Section provides a collaborative network for researchers interested in health workforce issues, positioning this field as an independent, interdisciplinary, and multi-professional area of study. HCW promotes capacity building, knowledge exchange, and networking to strengthen research, education, and leadership in developing a people-centered and sustainable health workforce. The section bridges research, policy, and practice, integrating diverse disciplinary approaches and connecting key stakeholders, institutions, and international partners. By situating health workforce research within broader healthcare policy and service transformations, HCW enhances collaboration with related fields, including Health Services Research (HSR), and aligns with European and global initiatives. The section organizes preconferences and workshops at the annual EUPHA Conference and contributes to consultations and activities with the European Commission, WHO Regional Office for Europe, OECD, European Observatory for Health Systems and Policy, and the European Health Management Association.
The European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies is a partnership hosted by WHO that identifies and generates the evidence that Europe’s decision-makers need. The Observatory shares this evidence on health systems in print, in person and online, acting as a knowledge broker and bridging the gap between academia and policy.
The European Public Health Association (EUPHA), is a membership-based organization that unites Europe’s public health community to share expertise, influence policy, and promote healthier societies. Guided by global commitments such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the principles of One Health and Planetary Health, EUPHA advocates for resilient public health strategies that protect people and the environment alike. Through cross-sector and cross-regional collaboration, the organization addresses the complex social, environmental, political, and commercial determinants of health. EUPHA is committed to reducing health inequalities, focusing on marginalized and vulnerable populations, and delivering inclusive, context-sensitive solutions that advance health equity across Europe.
The Department of Public Health functions within the College of Political, Administrative and Communication Sciences of the Babeș-Bolyai University, the biggest and highest ranked university from Romania. The department is home to a full English educational track in public health, BA, MPH, PhD, the first of its kind in Romania and the region. The research activity of the department is mainly focused on health policy & management, social & behavioral health and violence & injury prevention. With partners from more than 30 countries, the department has an excellent track record of research and capacity building programs funded by the European Commission, the National Institutes of Health (USA) and other funding bodies.
The WHO Collaborating Centre for Health Workforce Policy and Planning, hosted by the Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine at NOVA University Lisbon, is a leading international centre dedicated to strengthening health systems through the effective development and management of human resources for health. The Centre works closely with WHO structures at headquarters, regional, and local levels, as well as with other collaborating centres and national and international research and teaching institutions. The Centre’s mission is to build capacity and provide evidence-based guidance on health workforce policy and planning in Portugal, Portuguese-speaking African countries, Europe, and beyond. Its work focuses on strategic areas critical to healthcare quality, including digital transformation, initial and lifelong training, attraction, retention and distribution of health workers, and preparedness for public health emergencies.
World Health Organization is the authority responsible for public health within the United Nations system. The WHO Regional Office for Europe is one of WHO’s six regional offices around the world. It serves the WHO European Region, which comprises 53 countries, covering a vast geographical region from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans. WHO/Europe staff are public health, scientific and technical experts, based in the main office in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 3 technical centres and in country offices in 30 Member States.
The Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy (CERUS), part of the Faculty of Political, Administrative, and Communication Sciences at Bolyai University, Department of Public Health, is dedicated to developing, supporting, and promoting scientific research in public health, health policy, and health systems. The center aims to strengthen research capacity, foster skills development, and generate practical, evidence-based knowledge to improve population health and health systems in Romania and across Europe. CERUS promotes interdisciplinary research, facilitates collaboration among researchers, professionals, and institutions, and designs and implements national and international research projects. By producing analyses, policies, and recommendations grounded in scientific evidence, the center contributes to informed decision-making in public health.