Browsing by Author "Brand, Helmut (7103198882)"

Europeanization is assumed to influence health policy in the Western Balkans, but little is known about the actual impact of this process in these countries which constitute a complex geopolitical region of Europe. In this context, we used time trends to explore the Western Balkans health policies during the Europeanization through a cross-country comparative analysis of six countries. We conducted a health policy analysis by adapting the framework for globalization and population health coined by Huynen et al. in 2005. We analyzed 90 progress reports of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia from 2005 to 2020. In particular, we considered chapter 28 on “Consumer and health protection” and other chapters that contained the words “health” or “population health”. Evidence indicates that Europeanization influences Western Balkans’ policies at different levels. Western Balkan countries revise national legislation in accordance with new European Union acquis as addressed in the progress reports and build cooperation with international institutions. They build national health reforms and reorganize relevant institutions to better address regulations in accordance to Europeanization. However, it is necessary to monitor law implementation so that the current legislation is enforced and further positive impact can be measured on population health. © 2022

Background: Competency-based education is increasingly popular, especially in the area of continuing professional development. Many competency frameworks have been developed; however, few address leadership competencies for European public health professionals. The aim of this study was to develop a public health leadership competency framework to inform a leadership curriculum for public health professionals. The framework was developed as part of the Leaders for European Public Health project - supported by the EU Lifelong Learning Programme. Methods: The study was carried out in three phases: a literature review, consensus development panel and Delphi survey. The public health leadership competency framework was initially developed from a literature review. A preliminary list of competencies was submitted to a panel of experts. Two consensus development panels were held to evaluate and make changes to the initial draft competency framework. Then two rounds of a Delphi survey were carried out in an effort to reach consensus. Both surveys were presented through Survey Monkey to members of the Association of the Schools of Public Health in the European Region Working Group on Innovation in Public Health Teaching and Education. Results: The framework was developed consisting of 52 competencies organized into eight domains: Systems Thinking; Political Leadership; Collaborative Leadership: Building and Leading Interdisciplinary Teams; Leadership and Communication; Leading Change; Emotional Intelligence and Leadership in Team-based Organizations; Leadership, Organizational Learning and Development and Ethics and Professionalism. Conclusion: The framework can serve as a useful tool in identifying gaps in knowledge and skills, and shaping competency-based continuing professional development leadership curricula for public health professionals in Europe. © 2013 © The Author 2013. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved.

Huge population migration, increasing unemployment and poverty and unhealthy lifestyles (stress, smoking, alcohol consumption, etc), among the population in Serbia, are some of the consequences of the political and economic instability in the Balkan region over the last decade (especially in countries of the former Yugoslavia). Data available reveal that, in Serbia, chronic noncommunicable diseases are the dominant cause of death. The National Burden of Disease and Injury Study, done in 2003, showed that cardiovascular diseases, cancers and injuries are responsible for 80% of the total mortality burden in both males and females. The health-care system of Serbia is excessively centralized. The public health services are based on the traditional hygiene and clinical approach and are predominantly organized through a network of Institutes of Public Health which puts insufficient emphasis on analytical and planning tasks and on health promotion (including the prevention of chronic noncommunicable diseases), and too much emphasis on routine reporting and on activities of a technical and laboratory nature in the field of communicable diseases. Today, with the aid of the EU, UNICEF, the World Bank and NGOs, the Ministry of Health is in the process of expanding the capacities and skills of the public health workforce in order to achieve the "New Public Health". Although progress has been made on several important fronts in achieving the transition to the New Public Health, this does not yet extend to the wider community. Policy documents and legislative instruments have been drafted to guide the reorganization and reorientation of the public health services, especially the network of Institutes of Public Health, and the creation of the Centre School of Public Health has secured the future of professional public health training. The authors argue that the reform of the health sector should be placed within the context of the overall reform of public administration in the country. In this respect, much of the journey still lies ahead, but experience within public health can be used to stimulate, motivate and encourage professionals throughout the civil service to grasp the opportunities for positive change with both hands. © Springer-Verlag 2005.