Development of the public health specialist workforce in Romania

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical role of public health professionals in supporting the health system. They are essential for health system strengthening, disease prevention, and population-level interventions. In Romania, training is limited to residency in public health and management and two undergraduate programs. This study evaluates the evolution of public health professionals in Romania and the need for policies to strengthen the field.

Methods

Secondary data from the Annual Report on the Activity of Healthcare Facilities of the National Institute of Statistics for 2014-2024 were analyzed, together with a review of national legislation on public health practice.

Results

Between 2014 and 2024, the number of medical public health and management specialists in Romania increased from 150 to 371, with a compound annual growth rate of 9.5%. Growth accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the largest annual increase occurring in 2020, 21.78%, and remained elevated post-pandemic, particularly in 2023, 18.52%, indicating sustained workforce expansion. Public health in Romania follows two distinct pathways: residency training for medical public health specialists and academic higher education degrees. In 2025, public health programs in Cluj-Napoca and Bucharest admitted nearly 100 students, reflecting ongoing workforce development. By legislation, both residency-trained specialists and non-medical graduates in public health in Romania have relatively limited roles, despite the system’s need for a broader workforce in this field.

Conclusions

The public health specialist workforce in Romania more than doubled between 2014 and 2024, underscoring its critical role in health system response. The distinction between residency-trained specialists and academically trained graduates remains important, with clear guidelines needed for the latter to support integration into healthcare delivery and policy.

Key messages

• From 2014 to 2024, the number of public health specialists in Romania increased steadily over the decade.

• Legislative and policy support is essential to expand the public health workforce and enhance system resilience.