Healthcare professionals collaboratively building a patient-centered healthcare system.

Reimagining Healthcare: How People-Centered Approaches Can Transform Europe's Health Systems

Beau Callahan in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Exploring the shift towards patient-focused healthcare models and the critical role of the health workforce in Europe."

In recent years, European healthcare has increasingly focused on the 'people-centered' approach. Recognizing that effective healthcare extends beyond just treating illnesses, there's a growing emphasis on tailoring services to individual needs and preferences. This shift marks a significant evolution in how healthcare systems operate, placing the patient at the heart of care delivery.

A pivotal moment in this evolution was the 2015 special issue of Health Policy, which questioned the future of health workforce governance in Europe. That issue highlighted the increasing importance of health workforce research and the need for policies that are both context-sensitive and responsive to local needs. It emphasized integrated strategies that consider the broader implications of workforce issues, advocating for collaborative, cross-country research to drive meaningful change.

Building upon these foundations, the latest research delves deeper into the practical implementation of people-centered healthcare models. By examining new data and insights, these studies enhance our understanding of how health system changes impact the development of the health workforce, with a particular focus on emerging professional groups and evolving skill sets. The focus is now on how to make the people-centered health workforce a reality.

Navigating Key Components in Future Health Workforce Development

Healthcare professionals collaboratively building a patient-centered healthcare system.

A significant portion of current research is dedicated to understanding the key components that drive successful health workforce development. Studies encompass various countries, healthcare settings, and stakeholder groups, utilizing European comparative research to identify supportive conditions for change. These efforts aim to foster environments where healthcare professionals can thrive and deliver patient-centered care.

Specific research areas include:

Primary Care Workforce Development: Investigating strategies to strengthen primary care teams and improve access to community-based services.
Interprofessional Education: Exploring the role of collaborative education in fostering mutual respect and understanding among different healthcare professions, enhancing teamwork, and improving patient outcomes.
Community Orientation of General Practitioners: Examining how GPs can better integrate into and serve their local communities, addressing unique needs, and promoting preventive care.
Patient Views on New Roles: Understanding how patients perceive and interact with new healthcare roles, ensuring that changes align with patient expectations and preferences.

These targeted efforts aim to refine workforce planning and promote skill-mix changes, with research specifically focused on integrating nurse practitioners and physician assistants into healthcare systems, as well as optimizing resource allocation within hospitals.

Addressing the Challenges and Looking Ahead

Despite the progress, challenges remain in building a truly people-centered health workforce. Current policies often struggle to address the mobility and migration of healthcare workers, potentially exacerbating inequalities between well-resourced and under-resourced regions. Additionally, the rise of right-wing populism poses a threat to public health initiatives and the health workforce, requiring proactive measures to safeguard these critical areas. Placing the health workforce at the forefront of health policymaking, both globally and locally, is essential for overcoming these challenges and realizing the full potential of people-centered healthcare.

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Everything You Need To Know

What is the 'people-centered' approach in European healthcare, and how does it differ from traditional methods?

The 'people-centered' approach in European healthcare prioritizes tailoring services to individual patient needs and preferences. This marks a significant shift from traditional healthcare models that primarily focus on treating illnesses. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, people-centered care emphasizes understanding each patient's unique circumstances to provide more effective and personalized care. This includes considering individual health needs, preferences, and the broader social determinants of health to improve patient outcomes and satisfaction.

What pivotal event is highlighted as a key moment in the evolution of people-centered healthcare, and what were its main concerns?

The 2015 special issue of Health Policy is highlighted as a pivotal moment. It questioned the future of health workforce governance in Europe. The main concerns revolved around the increasing importance of health workforce research and the need for context-sensitive, responsive policies. The issue emphasized integrated strategies and collaborative, cross-country research to drive meaningful change in the health workforce.

What are the key areas of research focused on health workforce development?

Current research focuses on several key areas: Primary Care Workforce Development, exploring strategies to strengthen primary care teams; Interprofessional Education, investigating collaborative education among different healthcare professions; Community Orientation of General Practitioners (GPs), examining how GPs can better serve their local communities; and Patient Views on New Roles, understanding patient perceptions of new healthcare roles. These areas aim to refine workforce planning and promote skill-mix changes.

How does interprofessional education contribute to improving healthcare outcomes in the context of people-centered care?

Interprofessional Education fosters mutual respect and understanding among different healthcare professions. It enhances teamwork and improves patient outcomes. By encouraging collaboration and communication between various healthcare professionals, interprofessional education ensures a more coordinated and patient-focused approach to care delivery, which is a core principle of the people-centered model.

What challenges remain in building a people-centered health workforce, and what proactive measures are needed to overcome them?

Challenges include addressing the mobility and migration of healthcare workers, which can exacerbate inequalities. Also, the rise of right-wing populism poses a threat to public health initiatives. Proactive measures include placing the health workforce at the forefront of health policymaking, both globally and locally. This involves creating policies that support healthcare workers and safeguard public health to fully realize the potential of people-centered healthcare.