More from this creator
Other episodes by Kitty Cat.
More like this
If you liked this, try these.
Transcript
The full episode, in writing.
Here are the three biggest stories in international health policy and innovation as of Monday, July 6, 2026.
Small States’ Leadership
On June 9, 2026, the World Health Organization highlighted that the smallest countries in the European Region are at the forefront of efforts to build a stronger and more sustainable health workforce. These countries include Andorra, Cyprus, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, San Marino, and Slovenia. They formally adopted the Riga Outcome Statement at the twelfth High-level Meeting of the WHO Small Countries Initiative in Riga, Latvia, on June 4 and 5, 2026.
The Riga Outcome Statement marks a collective commitment by these nations to address urgent health workforce pressures. The statement sets out specific goals: improving retention, protecting health workers, and preparing both health systems and the health and care workforce for future challenges. This commitment emerges amid the warning that the European Region faces an estimated shortage of nearly one million health workers by 2030, a gap driven by ageing populations, rising demand for care, the ageing of the workforce itself, and difficulties in attracting and retaining doctors, nurses, and other health professionals.
At the Riga meeting, ministers agreed to strengthen long-term workforce planning, promote digital literacy among health workers, improve worker retention, support the mental health and wellbeing of staff, and create safer, more supportive working environments. The theme of the meeting—From scarcity to sustainability: can small nations lead workforce innovations?—reflected a conviction that smaller countries, due to their flexibility and scale, can serve as laboratories for new solutions and rapid policy implementation.
A key finding presented in Riga was that rates of depression and anxiety among doctors and nurses are five times higher than for the general population, according to the WHO/Europe Mental Health of Nurses and Doctors (MeND) survey. This survey is the largest to date on the mental health of health workers in Europe. In response, practical solutions were discussed, including ways to reduce excessive workloads, adjust shift patterns, strengthen team-based care, and ensure that health workers have safe mechanisms for feedback and support.
Workplace violence was identified as a serious and widespread problem across the region. Approximately one third of doctors and nurses reported being exposed to bullying or violent threats in their workplace. To address this, the Riga Outcome Statement calls for clear reporting mechanisms, improved workplace policies, and supportive leadership to ensure that health workers can feel safe and respected.
Retention of health workers is a central challenge. Small countries are committing to making working conditions more attractive through better career development, safer workplaces, and attention to the mental health of staff. Latvia, for example, highlighted its Health Workforce Development Strategy 2025–2029 at the meeting, focusing on residency planning, financial support for working outside major cities, and expanding the role of nurses. Latvia’s recent legislation introducing advanced nursing practice was presented as a measure to strengthen primary health care and improve access to services in underserved communities.
Long-term planning is a major aspect of these countries’ approach. The Riga Outcome Statement emphasizes the need to strengthen health workforce governance, use data to anticipate future needs, adapt education and training to changing health requirements, and address health worker mobility through regional cooperation.
Demographic change is altering health system needs. With people living longer, there is growing demand for stronger primary care, prevention, and integrated services. Health systems must also prepare for new threats such as pandemics, climate change, cyber risks, and supply chain disruptions. The smallest countries, through the Small Countries Initiative, are positioning themselves as leaders in responding to these challenges by sharing solutions, adapting quickly, and translating commitments into practical action.
The Small Countries Initiative, established in 2013, has become one of the European Region’s primary platforms for collaboration on health policy. Over twelve years, it has developed into a forum for sharing innovations and strategies to overcome common challenges. The group’s recent commitments build on previous work to create national health workforce strategies aligned with the Framework for Action on the Health and Care Workforce in the WHO European Region for 2023–2030.
European Union Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare Olivér Várhelyi participated in the Riga meeting and stated that a secure and resilient health system starts with its people, highlighting the need for coordinated action and tools to strengthen the health workforce.
WHO’s Strategic Priorities
The World Health Organization released a background paper for the Second European Programme of Work, which sets the agenda for public health action in the region from 2026 to 2030. This document provides a foundation for collaborative efforts among member states to address both ongoing and emerging health challenges. The Programme is informed by input from over 5,000 individuals gathered through public hearings and extensive network consultations organized by the WHO Regional Office for Europe in early 2025.
The Second European Programme of Work outlines strategic foresight to shape the region’s health agenda, anticipating large-scale trends and defining policy responses. The document is grounded in rigorous science and evidence, and it includes assessment of progress on key health and wellbeing goals, as well as identification of the main forces that will affect public health in the next five years and beyond.
Among the core priorities articulated in the Programme are the strengthening of health systems, moving toward universal health coverage, protecting against health emergencies, and promoting health and wellbeing across populations. The document emphasizes that these goals are only achievable through collaboration among member states, and that sustainable health systems require both innovation and long-term investment in the health workforce.
The Programme identifies several threats to health system sustainability, including demographic shifts, increased chronic disease burdens, technological disruptions, and the growing threat of health emergencies ranging from pandemics to climate-related disasters. The approach outlined in the Programme encourages member states to invest in workforce development, digital health, and new models of care tailored to the changing needs of their populations.
The Programme also recognizes the importance of equity in health outcomes and access. It calls for policies that ensure all segments of society, including marginalized and underserved communities, benefit from investments in health. This includes both traditional public health interventions and newer approaches such as digital health, artificial intelligence, and integrated data systems.
The co-creation process behind the Programme involved five public hearings and broad engagement from health professionals, civil society, and government representatives. The aim was to create a participatory, forward-looking vision for health in the European Region, rooted in both technical evidence and the lived experience of those delivering and receiving care.
The Programme’s flagship initiatives cover a range of issues, including universal health coverage, digital transformation, health workforce sustainability, and responses to health emergencies. It also addresses the need for improved health information and data infrastructure to support sound policy decisions and resource allocation.
One challenge flagged in discussions of the Programme is the possibility of health funding facing cuts in future European Union budgets, as new priorities such as defense and competitiveness draw more resources. This risk has prompted renewed emphasis on making health systems both more efficient and more resilient to shocks.
The Programme places special emphasis on adapting health systems to future risks. These include the impacts of climate change, the threat of emerging infectious diseases, and the potential for geopolitical and economic instability to disrupt health service delivery. Building resilience to these risks requires flexible, well-trained workforces, robust public health infrastructure, and the adoption of innovative technologies.
Harnessing Innovation and Technology
The World Health Organization is organizing an event titled ‘Health systems of the future: harnessing technology and innovation in health for everyone everywhere.’ This initiative focuses on the transformative role that technology and innovation can play in strengthening health systems. The event aims to promote equitable access to health advancements and encourage adoption of digital solutions across member states.
New technologies, including digital tools, artificial intelligence, and precision medicine, are already transforming health care in the region. As of April 2026, all 27 European Union Member States have recognized the potential of artificial intelligence to enhance patient care. Nearly 74% now employ AI-assisted diagnostics, and 63% use chatbots as part of patient engagement strategies.
AI and big data enable individualized care and can revolutionize health planning through predictive modeling and analysis of population health trends. These technologies help health systems anticipate patient flows, allocate resources more efficiently, and support the ongoing performance of health and care workers. However, technological adoption is outpacing governance frameworks, workforce skills, and societal preparedness, raising ethical and equity concerns.
A report released by WHO/Europe in April 2026 found that the rapid expansion of AI-driven healthcare is not matched by a parallel increase in digital health literacy or robust oversight. Only about half of countries in Europe and Central Asia have enacted policies to improve digital health literacy, leaving millions at risk of exclusion from digital health benefits.
The upcoming WHO event will convene member states, health workforce representatives, digital health advocates, and civil society leaders to address the major strategic shifts required to respond to technological advancements. Topics will include how to balance the efficiency of AI tools with the need to retain person-centered care that emphasizes human connection, and how to promote citizen participation to combat digital exclusion.
The event is being held as part of a wider series of public hearings designed to inform the Second European Programme of Work for 2026 to 2030. By collecting input from diverse stakeholders, WHO aims to ensure that digital innovations serve the goals of equity, access, and improved health outcomes for all.
The integration of AI into healthcare is reshaping both clinical practice and workforce needs. Countries are increasingly incorporating AI literacy into pre-service education for health professionals and ongoing professional development. This is a direct response to the need for health workers who can safely and effectively deploy new technologies in patient care.
There are also concerns about patient privacy and data security as health systems become more reliant on big data and digital solutions. Ensuring the rights of patients and protecting sensitive health information are seen as non-negotiable requirements as digital health technologies proliferate.
The WHO report and event highlight a tension between market-driven innovation and the imperative for public sector stewardship to protect equity and public trust. Affordability and accessibility of new technologies remain central challenges, particularly for marginalized populations.
The event’s keynote speakers include Hans Henri P. Kluge, Monica García Gómez, Teymur Musayev, Bogi Eliasen, Line Farah, Bettina Lundgren, Katherine Rouleau, and Johan Van Eldere. They bring perspectives from government ministries, academic medicine, digital health policymaking, and civil society.
Participants are expected to debate and propose actionable steps to ensure digital innovation does not widen existing disparities in health. Proposals under discussion include investing in digital literacy, developing ethical oversight frameworks for AI, and designing public health systems that prioritize both technological adaptation and human-centered care.
As of the most recent reporting, the momentum for integrating technology in European health systems is high. However, the pace of adoption continues to outstrip the development of governance, skills, and safeguards. Policymakers are under increasing pressure to close this gap before inequities grow deeper or public trust in digital health is undermined.
The Riga Outcome Statement, adopted by the smallest states in early June, is the latest and most specific policy commitment on record. It demonstrates how small countries—through innovative policy, coordinated partnerships, and a willingness to experiment—are now driving the regional agenda for health workforce sustainability and system transformation.