SHC's founder Ged Byrne led the development of HEE’s World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre
Introduction
The World Health Organisation (WHO) designates institutions as Collaborating Centres (CCs) to support its work in various health-related fields. Health Education England (HEE) hosts a WHO Collaborating Centre focused on health workforce education and development. This case study explores the Centre’s role, objectives, activities, and impact on global health workforce strengthening.
Background
Health Education England (HEE) is a key organisation within the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), responsible for workforce planning, education, and training. Recognising its expertise in health workforce development, the WHO designated HEE as a Collaborating Centre in 2018. The Centre plays a vital role in supporting the WHO’s global strategy on human resources for health (HRH).
Objectives of the WHO Collaborating Centre at HEE
The WHO Collaborating Centre at HEE focuses on:
Strengthening Health Workforce Education: Supporting countries in designing and delivering high-quality health education programs.
Workforce Planning and Policy Development: Assisting governments in developing policies to ensure a sustainable and well-trained health workforce.
Capacity Building in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs): Providing technical expertise and training to improve health systems globally.
Promoting Interprofessional Education (IPE): Encouraging collaboration among different healthcare professionals to enhance patient care.
Research and Innovation in Workforce Development: Contributing to evidence-based policies through research and case studies.
Key Activities and Contributions
Global Partnerships and Training Programs
HEE’s WHO Collaborating Centre works with health ministries, universities, and organisations worldwide. It has provided training programs in countries facing critical health workforce shortages, such as in Africa and Asia.
COVID-19 Response and Workforce Support
During the COVID-19 pandemic, HEE played a crucial role in sharing workforce training resources, supporting digital learning, and advising on surge workforce strategies in different countries.
Strengthening Nursing and Midwifery Education
HEE has collaborated with WHO to enhance nursing and midwifery education in LMICs. This includes curriculum development, leadership training, and digital learning solutions.
Digital Health and E-Learning Innovations
The Centre has developed and shared digital learning resources to improve access to high-quality health education. For example, the Global Digital Learning Network helps healthcare workers in remote areas gain essential skills.
Research and Policy Development
HEE contributes to global research on health workforce challenges, including workforce shortages, migration, and retention strategies. It has supported WHO in producing guidance on workforce planning and development.
Impact and Achievements
Capacity Building in LMICs: HEE has provided training and technical assistance to countries struggling with health workforce shortages, improving their ability to train and retain healthcare workers.
Workforce Policy Development: HEE’s expertise has influenced global HRH policies, helping governments implement effective workforce strategies.
Support During Global Health Crises: The Centre’s work during COVID-19 demonstrated its ability to respond quickly to global workforce challenges.
Promotion of Digital Learning: HEE’s digital learning initiatives have expanded access to quality training, particularly in low-resource settings.
Challenges and Future Directions
Despite its successes, the WHO Collaborating Centre at HEE faces challenges such as:
Sustaining Long-Term Impact: Ensuring that workforce training programs have lasting benefits beyond initial implementation.
Adapting to Rapidly Changing Healthcare Needs: Keeping up with emerging health threats and technological advancements.
Addressing Workforce Retention Issues: Many LMICs struggle with retaining trained health workers due to economic and systemic factors.
Looking ahead, the Centre aims to:
Expand its support for digital and remote learning.
Strengthen collaboration with LMICs to build resilient health systems.
Continue advising on workforce policy and planning at a global level.
Conclusion
The WHO Collaborating Centre at Health Education England plays a vital role in strengthening the global health workforce. Through training, policy support, and digital innovations, it contributes to WHO’s mission of ensuring a well-trained and sustainable health workforce worldwide. As global health challenges evolve, the Centre’s work will remain crucial in shaping the future of healthcare education and workforce planning.
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