European Network of Medical Residents in Public Health
EuroNet MRPH
EuroNet MRPH aims to create a professional network among European residents in Public Health in order to share information on educational programs, to facilitate exchanges and common activities, as well as to develop a body of scientific research.
ID: 882775230396-01
Lobbying Activity
Response to Interim evaluation of the EU4Health Programme 2021-2027
8 Jan 2024
After four years since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is still a pressing need to strengthen Europe's public health (PH). For EU4Health to truly make health systems crisis-proof", it must approach workforce challenges systemically. Silos and short-term thinking pose a threat to population health, necessitating broader, holistic partnerships with stakeholders. As the interim evaluation presents an opportunity for course adjustment, EuroNet MRPH encourages more support for cooperative, sustainably resourced initiatives for training the young PH workforce. We note that under the next EU4Health work program for 2024, the section on 'healthcare systems and healthcare workforce' only references joint actions focused on pharmaceuticals and medical devices. This feels disconnected from what is needed, knowing the importance the WHO EU Regional Committee recently placed on healthcare workforce (HCW) issues. The HCW grapples with adapting to evolving roles and confronting new challenges while possibly lacking the proper training to effectively navigate them. We acknowledge the valuable strides made in improving skills [1] -notably digital skills [2] - among healthcare workers. Yet, we emphasize the need for the forthcoming initiative to be not solely catered to medical workers but rather to expand the health perspective beyond care. We advocate for a curriculum shift, incorporating communication, leadership skills, and immediate attention to climate change response, and integrate these facets into the curriculum of the entire PH HCW through urgent investments in education, training, data systems, and comprehensive support for workers. While there is a consistent education plan on immunization during PH residency among European countries, very little is taught regarding communication on this topic. In a world where misinformation keeps growing due mainly to patients broad access to unchecked information, PH residents need to be trained in communication skills to counteract this phenomenon. This training is currently primarily accessible through pharma-funded programs, which could cause a biased vision of the topic and/or conflict of interests. [3] Furthermore, the longstanding workforce shortages will require the support of financially resilient and sustainable Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) spearheading grassroots efforts. Despite the growing support for targeted funding in EU4Health for CSOs addressing specific priorities (e.g., EU Beating Cancer Plan, Pharmaceutical European Strategy, etc.), interdisciplinary youth CSOs tackling broader workforce issues can encounter barriers: The requirement of CV submission in grant applications can hinder youth-led organizations. We encourage assessment based on proposals merits, not credentials. To render CSO participation truly financially resilient and allow long-term planning of initiatives, we encourage increased funding for core functioning organizational grants. We urge grants supporting interdisciplinary training across the entire HCW continuum. This requires evidence-based research produced by and with early career professionals, hence prompting the need for increased early professional research grants. Narrowly defined grants risk overlooking the complexity of the healthcare shortage challenge. Involving early-career professionals is one of the pathways ensuring relevance for years to come. EuroNet MRPH encourages focusing future calls and assessment criteria on supporting precisely the kind of collaborations that drive progress against Europe's deepening HCW crisis in its complexity. Our population's well-being depends on system resilience - now is the time to invest accordingly. 1 HEROESJoint Action health.ec.europa.eu/health-workforce/overview_en 2 Call for proposals to provide training for health workforce, including digital skills 3 Veloso Fragiola M, Rodriguez-Borlado L. Training on vaccine communication of public medical residents in Europe.
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