Strategic Health Workforce Planning: Building a Sustainable Future
17th & 18th March 2025 | Manoel Theatre, Valletta, Malta

Held at the iconic Manoel Theatre in Valletta, the second seminar in Malta’s health workforce planning series—Strategic Health Workforce Planning: Building a Sustainable Future—offered a dynamic platform for reflection, learning, and future planning. The hybrid event, conducted on the 17th and 18th of March 2025, welcomed key stakeholders both in person and remotely, including high-level representatives from the European Commission, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the EU Joint Action on Health Workforce Planning and Forecasting (HEROES) alongside leading figures in health workforce planning from Malta’s National Health System including Heads of services, entity CEOs, HR experts and representatives from Education Institutions.

The event was officially opened by Katarzyna Ptak Bufkens, EU Policy Officer, on behalf of DG SANTE and the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry for Health and Active Ageing (MHA), Malta. Their remarks set the tone for a seminar rooted in shared progress, innovation, and cross-border collaboration.

Seminar Objectives

Following the successful 2023 launch of Malta’s evidence-based Health Workforce (HWF) planning and forecasting tool during the first stakeholder policy dialogue meeting, the second dialogue convened to showcase the tangible progress and outcomes achieved through the HEROES Joint Action initiative. A central focus was how the Malta team demonstrated effective use of support from the EU HEROES Joint Action and the World Health Organization (WHO) to advance strategic health workforce planning. Maureen Mahoney, Andrew Xuereb, Gwen Gatt and Veronica Montebello, the Malta team described how this progress has been accomplished through three key pillars: the centralisation and integration of workforce data into a real-time, centralised repository; the continuous adaptation and use of the national workforce planning tool to better meet local needs; and targeted capacity-building efforts to enhance the skills and competencies of key stakeholders. Additionally, the seminar served as a platform to disseminate emerging good practices and successes while fostering dialogue on long-term sustainability strategies for robust, evidence-based workforce planning systems.

The seminar offered significant benefits for participants, particularly in the context of mutual learning and collaboration. Attendees had the opportunity to gain valuable insights into effective mutual learning strategies and collaborative practices, drawing from Malta’s experience within the HEROES Joint Action. Moreover, it served as a catalyst for fostering deeper knowledge exchange and strengthening cooperation among project partners across Europe, reinforcing a shared commitment to building resilient and sustainable health systems.

Activities

A key presentation was delivered by Maureen Mahoney, Director General of People Management, focusing on the Progress in the Implementation of the Health Workforce Strategy 2022–2030. This presentation highlighted the milestones achieved thus far in the rollout of the Health Workforce Strategy, which aims to enhance the capacity, quality, and sustainability of the Maltese health workforce over the next decade. She detailed the strategic initiatives underway, including the integration of workforce planning into broader national healthcare policies and the steps taken to address the growing demand for healthcare services. She also discussed the challenges encountered during implementation and the adaptive strategies being employed to overcome them, ensuring that the strategy remains relevant and effective in the face of evolving health sector dynamics. 

The workshop served as a valuable opportunity to showcase tangible, real-world examples of how Malta’s Health Workforce planning tool is already being used to improve services at the departmental level. One compelling case study was presented by the Deputy Clinical Chair in Accident & Emergency, Dr Maryrose Cassar, demonstrating how the HRH tool was utilised to forecast service needs, drive innovation, and upskill within the Emergency Ambulance Service. As a result of this targeted approach, Malta has now established National Standards at MQF Levels 4 and 5 for Emergency Ambulance Responders (EARs), along with the launch of a new accredited MQF Level 4 EAR course—paving the way for a more sustainable and strategically managed future for the service. Additionally, Maureen Mahoney shared a forward-looking initiative focused on task shifting within dental services, specifically transferring the responsibility of intraoral radiography from radiographers to dental surgery assistants. This initiative not only involves the creation of an accredited training programme but also requires legislative changes to support a broader scope of practice. Both examples underscored the transformative impact of evidence-based workforce planning and the potential it holds for achieving long-term health system sustainability.

Guest speaker Rob Smith, former National Director of Workforce Planning for the English NHS, spoke about the integrated planning of healthcare professionals and the challenges arising from fragmented efforts in service, financial, and workforce planning. He highlighted that different agencies hold the levers of action at various levels, creating a need for better coordination and alignment. Integrated planning provides a framework to address these challenges by aligning service goals, workforce supply, and actions. To build a responsive and sustainable workforce, integrated planning is essential to ensure that healthcare services meet evolving demands while overcoming fragmentation and governance challenges.

Guest speaker Cris Scotter from the World Health Organization’s Regional Office for Europe spoke about the critical role of data in workforce planning and governance. He emphasised that managing the balance between workforce supply and demand is essential for the success and sustainability of healthcare systems. Scotter highlighted that governance and public administration serve as the “glue” that binds HRH planning and provision together, with data being a key enabler. The lack of data prevents policymakers from making timely interventions and investments, which undermines effective planning. Data, he argued, not only supports health intelligence but also reveals a correlation between HRH planning capacity and governance effectiveness. Furthermore, data-driven strategic planning enables policymakers to align human resources with the broader healthcare goals and policies, ensuring the workforce is prepared to meet future challenges.

Addressing Workforce Challenges

The event directly addressed several critical challenges in health workforce planning that are common across many healthcare systems. One major issue, fragmented data ecosystems, is being actively addressed in Malta through the ongoing development of a centralised Health Workforce data repository, which aims to support more cohesive and informed planning as it continues to evolve. To tackle existing skill and capacity gaps among those responsible for workforce planning, structured upskilling initiatives will be implemented, ensuring that stakeholders are equipped with the necessary competencies for effective decision-making. Finally, discussions focused on ensuring the long-term sustainability of these systems, reinforcing the need for resilient, adaptable strategies that can respond to evolving healthcare demands.

Looking Ahead

The 2025 seminar reaffirmed Malta’s growing leadership role in health workforce planning within the EU. By showcasing real-world implementation, engaging in mutual learning, and promoting open knowledge exchange, Malta continues to set a strong example for collaborative innovation in healthcare policy. As the HEROES Joint Action progresses, events like this provide vital touchpoints for shared learning, encouraging countries across Europe to harness the power of data, tools, and  community to build a healthier, more sustainable future.