The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated the Department of International Health at Maastricht University in the Netherlands as the new collaborating centre on Public Health Leadership and Workforce Development. This collaboration aims to enhance the professionalization and competencies of the public health workforce across the WHO European Region. The focus will be on strengthening public health leadership at regional and country levels.
The partnership between WHO/Europe and Maastricht University’s department started in 2014 and has now evolved into an official collaborating centre. This designation marks a significant milestone in advancing public health leadership and workforce professionalization to effectively protect and promote health in a rapidly changing world.
Dr. Natasha Azzopardi-Muscat, WHO/Europe’s Director of Country Health Policies and Systems, emphasized the importance of having skilled public health professionals in key roles to ensure lasting impact on public health outcomes. The collaboration aims to generate robust evidence, develop tools, and offer capacity-building programs to empower the public health workforce.
Public health leadership plays a crucial role in achieving universal health coverage and building resilient health systems. It requires proactive assessment of new challenges, formulation of effective solutions, and collaboration with various stakeholders. However, many countries encounter obstacles such as shortages of trained professionals, inadequate institutional mechanisms, and insufficient coordination across sectors and government levels.
Professor Katarzyna Czabanowska, Head of the collaborating centre at Maastricht University, highlighted the significance of investing in a competent and visionary public health workforce. By nurturing leaders and equipping them to tackle complex health challenges, communities can be empowered, lives saved, and resilience built for future generations.
Efforts like the new collaborating centre are crucial in shaping a healthier and more equitable future. By providing strategic leadership development and fostering a skilled workforce capable of delivering high-quality public health outcomes, countries can respond effectively to current crises and create a sustainable health landscape for tomorrow.
The establishment of this collaborating centre underscores the commitment to enhancing public health leadership and workforce development, aligning with WHO’s mission to promote health and well-being globally.
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