European Health Management Conference
10-12 June 2026- Barcelona

How can health systems better anticipate and respond to future workforce needs in an increasingly complex and rapidly evolving environment?

This important question will be at the centre of the panel discussion “From Data to Decisions: Future-Proofing Health Workforce Planning Through Smarter Demand Estimation” at EHMC 2026, the European Health Management Conference.

As healthcare systems across Europe face demographic changes, workforce shortages, technological innovation, and shifting models of care, robust and forward-looking workforce planning has never been more critical. Improving how we estimate future workforce demand is essential for ensuring sustainable, resilient, and accessible health services.

Joint Action HEROES is pleased to contribute to this timely discussion, bringing together policymakers, researchers, and health workforce experts to examine evidence-based approaches to demand estimation and workforce planning.

The session will showcase national experiences and perspectives from Ireland, Italy, and Lithuania, featuring contributions from:
Terence Hynes (Department of Health, Ireland)
Giulia Menin (Joint Action HEROES / Agenas, Italy)
Diana Smaliukaite (Ministry of Health, Lithuania)

International and comparative insights will be provided by:
Prof. Dr. Ronald Batenburg (Nivel / Radboud University, Netherlands)
Marco Di Marco, MD (Joint Action HEROES Agenas, Italy)
Dr. Eszter Kovacs (Semmelweis University Health Services Management Training Centre, Hungary)
Cris Scotter (WHO Regional Office for Europe)

The discussion will be moderated by:
Lisa Baldini (Joint Action HEROES Agenas, Italy)
Dr. Matthias Wismar (European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies)

EHMC, one of Europe’s leading forums for health management, brings together healthcare leaders, policymakers, researchers, and practitioners to address the most pressing challenges shaping the future of health systems. The conference theme, “Future-Proofing Health Systems for a Changing World: From Strategy to Action,” emphasises the need to translate long-term vision into practical and effective solutions.

The conference programme will explore key topics including workforce transformation, digital innovation, sustainable and resilient health systems, equitable access to care, leadership, governance, and health policy. Through collaboration and knowledge exchange, participants will examine how health systems can remain adaptable, integrated, and people-centred in the face of ongoing change.

Find more information on the EHMA website.