GHTM | IHMT NOVA is pleased to invite participants to the upcoming international webinar series “The Health and Care Workforce – From Crisis to Capacities,” taking place in Spring 2026.
At a time of intensifying global health challenges, the series shifts attention from short-term crisis response to strengthening sustainable workforce capacities. It aims to stimulate dialogue that connects research evidence, policy development, and real-world practice. Discussions will be informed by findings from the Health Policy Special Issue “The health and care workforce: how to respond to multiple crises and new health priorities?”.
Hosted by the WHO Collaborating Centre on Health Workforce Policies and Planning (WHOCC Workforce), the series is organised in collaboration with leading international partners, including the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, the WHO Regional Office for Europe, Health Policy (Elsevier), the WHO Collaborating Centre for Public Health Leadership and Workforce Development, the European Public Health Association (EUPHA), and the EUPHA Section on Health and Care Workforce.
Across the programme, speakers and participants will explore three key themes:
Webinar 1 — 5 March 2026, 15:00–16:00 CET
Planning the future health and care workforce to adapt effectively to complex shifting realities
This session will examine both conceptual and practical approaches to workforce planning, recognising it as a prerequisite for sustainability and a major challenge for countries facing uncertainty and rapidly evolving needs. Speakers include Gareth Rees, Ivy Bourgeault, Marjolein Dieleman, and Niamh Humphries, with commentaries from representatives of CPME, the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, and the WHO Regional Office for Europe.
Webinar 2 — 15 April 2026, 11:00–12:00 CET
Retaining health and care workers and improving resilience to ensure workforce sustainability
Focusing on retention and resilience, this webinar addresses challenges intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic, including increased workloads, stress, and mental health pressures affecting health professionals worldwide. Panelists include Erica Richardson, Alicja Domagala, Paul Künzle, and Martijn Felder, alongside expert commentaries from EUPHA, ESNO, and WHO Europe.
Webinar 3 — 18 May 2026, 15:00–16:00 CET
Transforming health systems through health and care workers to build new capacities
The concluding session highlights health and care workers as drivers of innovation, policy reform, equity, and organisational resilience, emphasising their central role as the core capital of health systems. Speakers include Gabriela Lotta, Viola Burau, Zuzana Kotherová, and Klaas Stek, with commentaries from international public health leaders and policy experts.
The scientific committee is chaired by Ellen Kuhlmann (Goethe University Frankfurt) and Tiago Correia (PPS-GHTM and WHOCC Coordinator), with organisational coordination led by André Beja (PPS-GHTM).
Participation is free of charge, but registration is mandatory. Detailed information about the programme and registration process is available in the event flyer.
We warmly encourage researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders interested in health workforce development to join this timely and important series.