THE FUTURE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS: INVESTIGATING SKILLS, NORMS AND INFRASTRUCTURES

Health systems worldwide are facing profound challenges. Demographic change, biomedical and technological innovation, rising costs, and growing social inequalities require renewed reflection on the roles, competencies, and governance of health professions in public health.

This joint IJPH–PHR call invites contributions examining how health professions are being reoriented to address current and future population health challenges. We welcome papers analysing transformations in education, regulation, interprofessional collaboration, workforce planning, and healthcare organization, and how innovative models of care or professionalism move from pilot initiatives to routine practice.

For IJPH, we invite Original Articles and Theory and Concept papers. For PHR, we invite Reviews (all types) and Policy Briefs. Contributions should adopt a systemic and forward-looking perspective aligned with broader public health objectives and governance structures.
We particularly welcome contributions that:
• Explore the integration of prevention and health promotion into professional practice and its implications.
• Examine education and training models aligning professional competencies with evolving societal needs.
• Analyse interprofessional collaboration and integrated care, including negotiations of roles and professional boundaries.
• Investigate the impact of digital and data-driven innovations on health expertise, evidence standards, and responsibilities.
• Discuss re-professionalization strategies that strengthen equity, accountability,
and system resilience.
• Address structural reforms, professional configurations, and educational innovations that improve population health and reduce health inequalities.

Further Information
JPH and PHR publish Gold Open Access. Article processing charges (APCs) apply. The journals offer APC discounts for first authors from low- and middle-income countries.
IJPH and PHR double-blind peer-review and author guidelines apply. Submitted manuscripts must fully comply with journal rules for article type, length and format (please consult the information for authors on the IJPH or PHR website).

In case of acceptance after peer review, articles will be published in the online special issue approximately 3 weeks after acceptance.

Keywords:
Health workforce, Professional competencies, Health promotion, Integrated care, Health system governance

Contact:
IJPH Editorial Office: ijph@swisstph.ch
PHR Editorial Office: phr@swisstph.ch

Article types and fees

This Special Issue accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Special Issue description:

• Commentary
• Editorial
• Guidance
• Hints and Kinks
• Letter to the Editor
• Mini Review
• Original Article
• Policy Brief
• Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Special Issue accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Special Issue description:

• Commentary
• Editorial
• Guidance
• Hints and Kinks
• Letter to the Editor
• Mini Review
• Original Article
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Society Statement
• Systematic Review
• Theory & Concept
• Young Researcher Editorial

Keywords: Health workforce, Professional competencies, Health promotion, Integrated care, Health system governance