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Community health workers: a comparative assessment of capacities of a global policy approach in selected European health systems

Author

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  • Kuhlmann, Ellen
  • Lotta, Gabriela
  • Burau, Viola
  • Correia, Tiago
  • Falkenbach, Michelle
  • Ungureanu, Marius-Ionut
  • Wallenburg, Iris
  • Williams, Gemma A
  • Lehmann, Uta

Abstract

Interest in community health workers (CHWs) and the benefits for health systems are growing globally, but research is focused on low- and middle-income countries and high-income Anglo-American countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Kuhlmann, Ellen & Lotta, Gabriela & Burau, Viola & Correia, Tiago & Falkenbach, Michelle & Ungureanu, Marius-Ionut & Wallenburg, Iris & Williams, Gemma A & Lehmann, Uta, 2026. "Community health workers: a comparative assessment of capacities of a global policy approach in selected European health systems," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:hepoli:v:165:y:2026:i:c:s0168851025002957
    DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2025.105541
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Greer, Scott L. & Jarman, Holly & Kulikoff, Rachel & Panteli, Dimitra & van Ginneken, Ewout & Wismar, Matthias, 2025. "The second Trump administration: A policy analysis of challenges and opportunities for European health policymakers," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    2. Steege, Rosalind & Taegtmeyer, Miriam & McCollum, Rosalind & Hawkins, Kate & Ormel, Hermen & Kok, Maryse & Rashid, Sabina & Otiso, Lilian & Sidat, Mohsin & Chikaphupha, Kingsley & Datiko, Daniel Gemec, 2018. "How do gender relations affect the working lives of close to community health service providers? Empirical research, a review and conceptual framework," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 209(C), pages 1-13.
    3. Uta Lehmann & Gulin Gedik & Arooj Jalal, 2024. "Mapping and analysing community health worker programmes in the Eastern Mediterranean region," International Journal of Health Planning and Management, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(3), pages 637-652, May.
    4. Ellen Kuhlmann & Gabriela Lotta & Gilles Dussault & Michelle Falkenbach & Tiago Correia, 2024. "The workforce crisis in healthcare: Moving the debate to bridge evidence and policy," International Journal of Health Planning and Management, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(3), pages 607-613, May.
    5. Wallenburg, Iris & Friebel, Rocco & Winblad, Ulrika & Maynou Pujolras, Laia & Bal, Roland, 2023. "‘Nurses are seen as general cargo, not the smart TVs you ship carefully’: the politics of nurse staffing in England, Spain, Sweden, and the Netherlands," Health Economics, Policy and Law, Cambridge University Press, vol. 18(4), pages 411-425, October.
    6. repec:plo:pone00:0220109 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Burau, Viola & Mejsner, Sofie Buch & Falkenbach, Michelle & Fehsenfeld, Michael & Kotherová, Zuzana & Neri, Stefano & Wallenburg, Iris & Kuhlmann, Ellen, 2024. "Post-COVID health policy responses to healthcare workforce capacities: A comparative analysis of health system resilience in six European countries," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    8. Viola Burau & Ellen Kuhlmann & Gabriela Lotta, 2023. "Comparative health policy goes qualitative: Broadening the focus of research after COVID‐19," International Journal of Health Planning and Management, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(5), pages 1135-1141, September.
    9. Stephen Hodgins & Uta Lehmann & Henry Perry & Nicholas Leydon & Kerry Scott & Smisha Agarwal & Hannah Marcus & Rajani Ved & Elijah Olivas & Madeleine Ballard & Dickson Mbewe & Margaret Odera & Sherlie, 2025. "Comparing apples with apples: A proposed taxonomy for “Community Health Workers” and other front-line health workers for international comparisons," PLOS Global Public Health, Public Library of Science, vol. 5(2), pages 1-18, February.
    10. Tiago Correia & Ellen Kuhlmann & Gabriela Lotta & André Beja & Rita Morais & Tomas Zapata & James Campbell, 2025. "Turning the global health and care workforce crisis into action: The pathway to effective evidence‐based policy and implementation," International Journal of Health Planning and Management, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(1), pages 224-233, January.
    11. Wallenburg, Iris & Friebel, Rocco & Winblad, Ulrika & Maynou Pujolras, Laia & Bal, Roland, 2023. "Nurses are seen as general cargo, not the smart TVs you ship carefully' the politics of nurse staffing in England, Spain, Sweden, and the Netherlands," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 120430, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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