Strengthening the public health workforce in Slovakia through professionalization

Abstract

Abstract Issue The Coalition of Partners (CoP) takes collective action to strengthen public health (PH) services and capacities across the WHO European Region. A review of the implementation of the European Action Plan for Strengthening PH Capacities and Services showed that, despite robust action, its potential remained largely unrealized. In 2017-2018 Slovakia has joined the WHO activities aimed to accelerate a progress in Europe and in individual Member States. One of the main problem of the Slovak PH system is a lack of experts and unbalanced infrastructure. Description of the problem The critical shortage of PH workforce in Slovakia is a result of increasing retirement of physicians, decreasing interest of young physicians and PH professionals to enter to PH practice, and limited opportunities for other professionals in the current PH system. Therefore, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Public Health Authority of the SR, the relevant academic institutions and non-governmental organisations agreed to deal with strengthening the PH workforce and took the responsibility for mobilizing the resources needed to implement the Agenda for Action. Results In September 2019, regional PH institutes, universities, professional associations, and other experts were invited to evaluate the PH workforce professionalization using a rapid assessment tool (Czabanowska, Slock, 2019). In October-December 2019, three national round tables were held with aim to formulate the areas for cooperation. In February 2020, the core team and three expertś teams were nominated by the State secretary of the MOH to continue on prioritising the future recommendations in the fields of: education and training, research and development, system and financing. Lessons The initiative supporting PH professionalization has a potential to form a national CoP on strengthening PH capacities and services. Its long-term vision is focused on effectively and efficiently governed PH system in Slovakia. Key messages In Slovakia, strengthening the public health workforce is essential. Started cooperation on supporting public health professionalization is an important step for future actions at national level.