Aligning Best Practices: A Guiding Framework as a Valuable Tool for Public Health Workforce Development with the Example of Ukraine

Olga Gershuni, Katarzyna Czabanowska, Genc Burazeri, Vesna Bjegovic-Mikanovic, Grzegorz Juszczyk, Anna Cichowska Myrup and Volodymyr Kurpita
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Olga Gershuni: Department of International Health, Care and Public Health Research Institute–CAPHRI, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, 6229 GT Maastricht, The Netherlands
Katarzyna Czabanowska: Department of International Health, Care and Public Health Research Institute–CAPHRI, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, 6229 GT Maastricht, The Netherlands
Genc Burazeri: Department of International Health, Care and Public Health Research Institute–CAPHRI, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, 6229 GT Maastricht, The Netherlands
Vesna Bjegovic-Mikanovic: Faculty of Medicine, Centre School of Public Health and Management, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Grzegorz Juszczyk: Department of Public Health, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
Anna Cichowska Myrup: Division of Health Systems and Public Health, Public Health Services, WHO Regional Office for Europe, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
Volodymyr Kurpita: Center for Public Health of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, 04071 Kyiv, Ukraine

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 17, 1-13

Abstract: Background: At present, in Ukraine, there is an insufficient capacity for up-to-date surveillance of the health status of the general population; public health (PH) promotion and disease prevention activities are scarce. Additionally, there is an urgent need to ensure, develop and support an efficient public health workforce (PHW) and appropriately address existing health issues. Ukraine currently introduces PH system reforms in line with its current burden of disease, the epidemiological profile and the Essential Public Health Services (EPHOs). This analysis aims to propose a pragmatic framework to provide guidance and recommendations related to the development, support and planning of the PHW in Ukraine. Methods: We constructed a framework based on a previously published scoping review and analyzed various policy analysis approaches. In line with the recommendations found in the literature and the best practices used elsewhere, this method enabled the construction of a framework for facilitating successful PHW development. In addition, an expert workshop was held, serving as a reality check for identifying crucial areas of the PH system in Ukraine. Results: The proposed framework includes a country’s background, the evidence and available policy options, such as the health system (including core functions, organizational resources, regulations and norms), health system capacities (including human resources; PH capacity assessment; datasets and databases; forecasting strategies; licensing, accreditation and quality assurance) and capacity building (including PH education, training, core competencies and ethical and professional codes of conduct). To facilitate and support effective implementation of the framework, we propose (1) implementing strategies to facilitate changes in attitude, behavior and practices among the citizens; (2) implementing strategies to facilitate the necessary behavioral changes in the PHW; (3) implementing strategies to facilitate the necessary organizational and institutional changes; (4) implementing strategies to facilitate system changes and (5) identification of potential barriers and obstacles for the implementation of these strategies. Conclusion: The report highlights the practical tactics and best practices for providing suggestions for PHW support and planning. The employment of prominent analytical tools and procedures in policymaking processes suggests an effective strategy for PHW development in Ukraine.

Keywords: public health; public health workforce; public health workforce development; scoping review; policy analysis; framework (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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