Skip to main content

Advertisement

Public Health Education in Central and Eastern Europe, and Central Asia

Public Health Reviewsvolume 33, pages105–133 (2011) | Download Citation

Abstract

The relative risk of premature mortality of the population in Central and Eastern European (CEE) and Central Asian Republic (CAR) countries is more than twice as high (and up to four times higher for post-Soviet republics), as compared to the average of the 15 states that comprised the European Union before May 2004 (EU15). The difference in average life expectancy at birth between the EU15 and the CEE countries is more than seven years, and it reaches ten years in certain post-Soviet states such as Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, and Ukraine.1 This not only reflects the considerable public health problems in these countries but also seriously hampers sustainable development and international competitiveness of their economies due to weakening human and societal resources. Improving the health of the population in the CEE countries is a key challenge of our times and the pivotal role of schools of public health in the training and orientation of the necessary human resources is unequivocal. In this article, we explore various projects designed to raise the level of public health training and examine the education systems in six former socialist countries that have reorientated their training since the early 1990s. Sustained and expanded efforts to promote public health education and policy awareness in these countries is vital to bringing best international health standards to these countries, which are still transitioning away from the remaining dominance of the Soviet Semashko system and philosophy.

References

  1. 1.

    World Health Organization. European Health For all Database (HFA-DB). Geneva: WHO; 2011. Available from URL: http://www.euro.who.int/en/what-we-do/data-and-evidence/databases/european-health-for-all-database-hfa-db2 (Accessed 9 September, 2011).

  2. 2.

    McKee M, White M, Bojan F, Osrbye T. Development of public health training in Hungary–an exercise in international co-operation. J Public Health Med. 1995;17:438–44.

  3. 3.

    Adeyi O, Chellarai G, Goldstein E, Preker A, Ringold D. Health status during the transition in Central and Eastern Europe: development in reverse? Health Policy Plan. 1997;12:132–45.

  4. 4.

    Oreskovic S. New priorities for health sector reform in Central and Eastern Europe. Croat Med J. 1998;39:225–33.

  5. 5.

    Tulchinsky TH, Varavikova EA. Addressing the epidemiologic transition in the former Soviet Union: strategies for health system and public health reform in Russia. Am J Pub Health. 1996;86:313–20.

  6. 6.

    Bury J, Gliber M. Quality Improvement and Accreditation of Training Programmes in Public Health. Fondation Merieux–ASPHER, 2000–2001. Lyon: Edition Fondation Merieux; 2001.

  7. 7.

    Goodman J, Overall J, Tulchinsky T. Public health workforce capacity building. Lessons learned from “quality development of public health teaching programmes in Central and Eastern Europe”. Brussels: ASPHER; 2008.

  8. 8.

    The European Master of Public Health. Vademecum. Available from URL: http://www.aspher.org/pliki/pdf/vademecum.pdf (Accessed 1 August, 2011).

  9. 9.

    Ádány R, Hajdú PV, Széles G, Vokó Z, Kósa K. Public health challenges of the 21st century and the role of schools of public health in Central and Eastern Europe. Public Health Rev. 2002;30:15–33.

  10. 10.

    Pavlekovic G, Sosic Z, Kenfelj H, Ivankovic D, Dezelic N, Vuletic S. [A comprehensive program in the fight against chronic non-infectious diseases in a basic population group-the Belec Study. IV. The interventional model.] Lijec Vjesn. 1992;114:220–6. [In Croatian].

  11. 11.

    Kaldmae P, Priimagi L, Raudsepp A, Grintchak M, Valjaots E. Promotion of safer sexual behaviour and HIV/STD prevention among adolescent students and army recruits. AIDS Care. 2000;12:783–8.

  12. 12.

    Egészséges Nemzetért Népegészségügyi Program 2001–2010. Egészségügyi Közlöny. 2001;51:2237–324.

  13. 13.

    Ministry of Health. National public health programme summary. Budapest; MOH: 2006. Available from URL: http://www.eum.hu/english/public-health-programme/national-public-health (Accessed 1 August, 2011).

  14. 14.

    Bjegovic V, Zivkovic M, Marinkovic J, Vukovic D, Legetic B. [Administration of the “Healthy School” project.] Srp Arh Celok Lek 1996;124:184–9. [In Serbian]

  15. 15.

    Sadauskiene R. The influence of the BRIMHEALTH Programme to Public Health development in Lithuania. A descriptive qualitative study. Master of Public Health, MPH 2007:9:. Nordic School of Public Health. Availablefrom URL: http://www.nhv.se/upload/dokument/forskning/Publikationer/MPH/2007/MPH2007–9_R.Sadauskiene.pdf (Accessed 1 August, 2011).

  16. 16.

    Köhler L, Eklund I. BRIMHEALTH. A successful experience in Nordic–Baltic cooperation in public health training. Eur J Public Health 2002;12:152–4.

  17. 17.

    Villerusa A. Public health training in Latvia. Abstract Book. Baltic Public Health Conference 2010–Accomplishments and Challenges. Tartu; 2010:21.

  18. 18.

    Indermitte E, Lang K. Public health education in Estonia–10 years experience. Abstract Book. Baltic Public Health Conference 2010–Accomplishments and Challenges. Tartu; 2010:20.

  19. 19.

    Moore L, Dixon J. Lessons from Lithuania: rethinking public health training. BMJ 1993;306:911–4.

  20. 20.

    Villerusa A, Stars I. Employment of graduates of the faculty of public health in Latvia. Abstract. 29th ASPHER Annual Conference, Valencia, Spain. 2007;19.

  21. 21.

    Department of Public Health. University of Tartu. Available from URL: http://www.arth.ut.ee/286738 (Accessed 1 August, 2011).

  22. 22.

    Public health education at Kaunus University of Medicine, Lithuania. Available from URL: http://eu.daad.de/imperia/md/content/eu/mocca/presentations/mocca_lithuania.pdf (Accessed 1 August, 2011).

  23. 23.

    Kalediene R. Resources for development of training in public health and health management in Eastern Europe: the Kaunas experience. Public Health Rev. 2002;30:145–154.

  24. 24.

    Kulzhanov M, Rechel B. Kazakhstan: Health system review. European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies. Health System in Transition. 2007;9:1–158.

  25. 25.

    Journal of Central Asian Health Service Research. Available from URL: http://journal.ksph.kz/ (Accessed 1 August, 2011).

  26. 26.

    Ministry of Health: Kazakh School of Public Health. Available from URL: http://www.ksph.kz/?dir=main&sid=68 (Accessed 1 August, 2011).

  27. 27.

    Ministry of Health. Health Strategy of the Republic of Macedonia, 2020. Safe, Efficient and Just Health Care System. Skopje: MOH; 2007.

  28. 28.

    Donev D, Karadzinska-Bislimovska J, Spiroski M. National Public Health Strategy in Macedonia. In: Scîntee SG, Galan A, Editors: Public Health Strategies: A Tool For Regional Development. A Handbook For Teachers, Researchers, Health Professionals And Decision Makers. Lage; 2005:381–408.

  29. 29.

    Center of Public Health, Medical Faculty, University “St. Cyril and Methodius”. Preliminary Evaluation Group Report, Based on Self Assessment Report and Site Visit for Preliminary Evaluation of the Master of Public Health Program. Skopje; 2005.

  30. 30.

    Ádány R. Festive inauguration of the first Hungarian School of Public Health at the University of Debrecen. Orv Hetil. 2007;148:1043–5.

  31. 31.

    University of Debrecen, Faculty of Public Health. Available from URL: http://www.nk.unideb.hu/index.php?langid=en (Accessed 1 August, 2011).

  32. 32.

    The Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region. (ASPHER). Available from URL: http://www.aspher.org/index.php?site=aspher_membership (Accessed 1 August, 2011).

Download references

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary

    • Róza Ádany MD, PhD, Dsc

  2. Faculty of Public Health, Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia

    • Anita Villerusa PhD

  3. Center of Public Health, Medical Faculty, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje, Macedonia

    • Jovanka Bislimovska MD, PhD

  4. Kazakhstan School of Public Health, Almaty, Kazakhstan

    • Maksut Kulzhanov MD, PhD

Authors

  1. Search for Róza Ádany MD, PhD, Dsc in:

  2. Search for Anita Villerusa PhD in:

  3. Search for Jovanka Bislimovska MD, PhD in:

  4. Search for Maksut Kulzhanov MD, PhD in:

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Róza Ádany MD, PhD, Dsc.

Additional information

Recommended Citation: Adany R, Villerusa A, Bislimovska J, Kulzhanov M. Public Health Education in Central and Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. Public Health Reviews. 2011;33:105–33.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Key Words

  • Public health education
  • Central and Eastern Europe
  • Central Asian Republics

Public Health Reviews

ISSN: 2107-6952

Contact us