The first edition of the International Course on Governance and Strategic Planning of the Health Workforce was successfully completed on 7 November 2025.
Organised by the Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, NOVA University Lisbon (IHMT NOVA), this course was developed within the framework of the HEROES Joint Action (HEalth woRkfOrce to meet health challEngeS), funded by the EU4H-PJG programme, and implemented in partnership with the Administração Central do Sistema de Saúde (ACSS). The course was coordinated by Isabel Craveiro, PPS-GHTM Research Group Leader, with organisational support from PhD students Réka Cane, Matilde Pacheco, and Danielle Cosac.
Held entirely online between 8 September and 7 November 2025, the training involved 22 professionals from a range of health sector institutions, including senior ACSS managers and staff, representatives from the Executive Directorate of the Serviço Nacional de Saúde (DE-SNS), various Local Health Units (ULS), and the Instituto Português de Oncologia (IPO).
The course aimed to strengthen the capacity for strategic planning in health human resources through the use of forecasting tools and planning methodologies, while also enhancing management and leadership skills essential for informed and sustainable decision-making within the health sector.
Among the key topics addressed were:
- Strategies for recruiting, retaining, and reactivating the healthcare workforce;
- Governance and leadership for talent satisfaction and retention;
- Leadership and systemic thinking in healthcare workforce planning.
The successful conclusion of this first edition highlights GHTM | IHMT NOVA’s commitment to empowering professionals and decision-makers to tackle structural challenges in health workforce planning. By fostering evidence-based policies and collaborative solutions across countries, the initiative contributes to building a stronger and more resilient global health workforce.
