EHTEL has long supported this large international partnership since its launch in 2023. It is well worth looking out for its community with its focus on knowledge exchange and sharing of useful materials as well as its regular (annual) Calls for contributions.
Health and care systems [work on] harmonised and coordinated solutions. Source: THCS
What is the European Partnership on Transforming Health and Care Systems?
The European Partnership on transforming health and care systems (THCS) is a Cofund action under the Horizon Europe Programme. It is designed to support coordinated national and regional research and innovation programmes. It does this alongside capacity building, networking, dissemination, and other key activities to support health and care systems transformation.
THCS core activity is the funding of research and innovation projects through joint transnational calls involving a large number of Research and Innovation Funding Organisations on common priorities and topics.
The Partnership instrument is open to:
- All European Union (EU) Member States.
- Countries associated with the Horizon Europe programme.
- Non-EU countries that can participate at their own costs.
The Partnership encourages engagement with:
- Other relevant Ministries which are not directly partners in this action.
- Many other key actors (these include innovation owners, and health and care systems owners/organisers and health and care agencies).
The European Commission is directly involved in the governance of the Partnership and contributes by co-funding 30% of all eligible costs.
What is the Partnership’s mission?
Health and care systems in Europe are facing core common challenges, which require harmonised and coordinated solutions. The THCS is a unique strategic opportunity to bring together stakeholders to – among several activities – facilitate the digitisation of health and care services, and support the transformation of health and care systems with innovative solutions driven by knowledge and evidence.
THCS’s general objective is to contribute to the transition towards more sustainable, efficient, resilient, inclusive, innovative and high-quality people-centred health and care systems equally accessible to all people.
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As THCS’s short promotional video concludes, “Each of us can make a difference. Together, we make change.” |
The THCS focuses on three main work streams:
- Filling the knowledge gaps with research actions aiming at providing the necessary evidence.
- Implementation and transfer aiming at supporting actions focusing on the testing of existing solutions and adaptability in different national and regional contexts.
- Boosting health and care systems through dedicated activities (capacity building and trainings, study visits, technical assistance, twinning, networking) involving different health and care stakeholders.
The THCS is built around four pillars that group different types of activities addressing different types of stakeholders of the health and care system. The activities are organised in ten Work Packages. These work closely together to achieve the Partnership objectives.
In addition, the THCS has been keen to set up a community and to facilitate a knowledge hub.
Why does EHTEL support the THCS?
EHTEL firmly believes in the importance of multi-stakeholder networks and the sharing of useful information. It is therefore pleased to support THCS’s events and to share with it our own useful documentation.
We believe that EHTEL members can – in support of their own member states and countries – benefit from the regular (annual) Calls for contributors launched by THCS.
The pre-announcement of THCS’s 2027 Call is out now. It indicates that its focus will be on implementation-oriented research and innovation to accelerate the uptake, adaptation, testing, evaluation and scaling of evidence-informed approaches to health and care workforce transformation. It’s all about applying and sustaining effective workforce solutions in context – solutions that strengthen the capacity of health and care systems to attract, train, deploy, and retain a skilled and resilient workforce.
This upcoming Call has themes in common with EHTEL’s own Change Management, including Capacity-Building work programme theme.
Useful materials
For your viewing and reading interest:
- See this 4-minute video that explains the THCS.
- Read all about the THCS here.
- Join the THCS Community here.
- Consider joining discussions on e.g., digital health and care, integrated care, and capacity-building.
Look at EHTEL’s previous support of the THCS through:
- THCS Learning Week: Recordings and Presentations Now Available
- Transforming Health and Care Systems: Resources and Podcasts
- Digital Health Technology Assessment: EHTEL Outlines a Range of Tools
- Transforming Health and Care Systems launches its second Joint Transnational Call
- Europe’s Transforming Health Care Systems Partnership: Signal Your Intent
