The South Eastern Europe Health Network (SEEHN) took part in the regional online workshop “Unlocking the Power of Data and Human Resources for Health Information Systems to Support Health and Care Workforce Development in the WHO European Region”, held on March 25, 2025.
Convened by WHO Europe, the high-level event focused on strengthening the quality and use of health workforce data across the region.
Representing SEEHN, Roxana Hainagiu, Chief Executive Officer of the SEEHN Regional Health Development Centre (RHDC) on Nursing and Midwifery, contributed as a speaker in the session “National Health Workforce Accounts: Data Collection and Reporting.”
Moderated by Maggie Langins, Policy Advisor for Nursing and Midwifery at WHO Europe, the session convened national experts to explore progress and challenges in health workforce data coordination and reporting.
The session opened with a joint presentation by Alba Llop-Girones, Technical Officer for Nursing and Midwifery and Health Workforce Data and Evidence Technical Lead at WHO/Europe, and Mathieu Boniol, Statistician at WHO Headquarters. They outlined the structure and current status of the WHO Europe/Eurostat/OECD Joint Data Collections, emphasizing their alignment with National Health Workforce Accounts (NHWA), and shared global trends, challenges, and emerging solutions in workforce data management.
Following this, Sue Tranka, Chief Nursing Officer for the Welsh Government, UK, offered an in-depth overview of nursing data availability in the UK, highlighting efforts in disaggregated data collection. Christelle Durand, Statistical Analyst at the Federal Public Service of Public Health in Belgium, shared insights on Belgium’s implementation of a mandatory registry for regulated healthcare professionals. Her presentation underscored how legislative changes and system integration are enhancing real-time health workforce intelligence.
Ms. Hainagiu presented key outcomes from the SEEHN sub-regional workshop—supported by WHO—focused on strengthening NHWA reporting and improving data quality in preparation hosted by the SEEHN RHDC on Nursing and Midwifery in August 2024 in Bucharest.
She highlighted the strategic role of the SEEHN RHDC on Nursing and Midwifery in fostering knowledge exchange, building capacity, and improving regional data quality. By sharing challenges, lessons learned, and good practices from member countries, the RHDC showcased how regional hubs can consolidate scattered information, align with global reporting frameworks, and support effective workforce planning—especially in nursing and midwifery.
The findings of the August 2024 Bucharest workshop identified persistent challenges across the region, including inconsistent indicator frameworks, lack of standardized definitions, limited digital infrastructure, and weak coordination among ministries, professional bodies, and academic institutions. Many countries continue to face difficulties in maintaining complete registries of nursing and midwifery professionals. During the discussions, participants emphasized the need for increased investment in digital transformation and capacity building to enhance data quality and enable evidence-based decision-making.
The WHO impact report of the workshop reported tangible progress on data collection. With WHO support, countries in the region achieved a 26% increase in submitted nursing workforce data within four months of the workshop, including 37 previously unreported indicators. These improvements spanned key areas such as workforce stock, distribution, education, and financing.
Ms. Hainagiu reaffirmed the role of the SEEHN RHDC as a driver of collaboration and regional capacity building, helping countries close data gaps and elevate nursing and midwifery leadership. Ms. Hainagiu also highlighted the added value of structured regional collaboration, particularly in advancing governance, aligning legislation, and accelerating digital transformation.
The workshop marked a significant milestone in the implementation of the EUR/RC73/8 Framework for Action. It provided a vital platform for countries to enhance their Human Resources for Health Information Systems (HRHIS), engage in peer learning, and synchronize efforts with global data collection initiatives led by WHO, OECD, and Eurostat. SEEHN remains committed to leveraging the RHDC on Nursing and Midwifery to enhance regional visibility, foster policy dialogue, and ensure that robust data and evidence drive sustainable health workforce development for resilient health systems.
