Assessing public health training in Southeast Asia and the UK: a comparison of competency development for delivering the Essential Public Health Functions
1
Office of the Chief Medical Officer, Bristol NHS Group, Bristol, United Kingdom
2
Faculty of Public Health, London, United Kingdom
3
PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam
4
Ministry of Health, Medical & Health Services, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
5
JC School of Public Health & Primary Care, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
6
UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
7
Center for Population Health Sciences, Hanoi University of Public Health, Hanoi, Viet Nam
8
Centre for Public Health, Queen's University, Belfast, United Kingdom
9
KHANA Center for Population Health Research, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
10
Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
11
Public Health and Community Medicine, IMU University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
12
Academy of Sciences Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
13
Department of Health Policy and Administration, College of Public Health, University of the Philippines, Manila, Philippines
14
University of Health Sciences, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
15
National Institute of Public Health, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
16
Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital Wellcome Trust Research Unit (LOMWRU), Microbiology Laboratory, Mahosot Hospital, Vientiane, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic
17
Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
18
Institute of Research and Education Development, University of Health Sciences, Vientiane, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic
19
Unit for Health Evidence and Policy, University of Health Sciences, Ministry of Health, Vientiane, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic
20
University of Public health, Yangon, Myanmar
21
Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Salaya, Thailand
22
Department of Biostatistics and Population Studies, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Delivering the World Health Organization (WHO) Roadmap requires a skilled workforce equipped to deliver the Essential Public Health Functions (EPHFs).1,2 The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries have varied public health systems and resources but share a commitment to strengthening regional public health collaboration. This study systematically maps public health training across ASEAN countries, using the United Kingdom as a benchmark, reflecting extensive UK collaboration to advance competency based public health training.
METHODS:
A two stage review was conducted: a scoping review of peer reviewed literature (search date 13.12.2023) and national policy documents, followed by institutional data collection by subject matter experts in each country. Training pathways, curricula, and workforce planning were mapped against the WHO EPHFs for core public health professionals and specialist training linked to national authorities. Comparative analysis included both medical and non medical tracks.
RESULTS:
Training structures, duration, certification, funding, and delivery models varied across ASEAN countries. Most countries offered separate pathways for medical and non medical professionals, with differing entry requirements for bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programmes. Training approaches for the EPHFs varied across countries and functions, using academic, workplace based, or combined models. Workforce planning and regulatory frameworks existed in most ASEAN countries. The UK offered a unified, competency based training scheme for both groups, including a master’s and a portfolio route for accreditation.
CONCLUSIONS:
This study is the first to systematically map national public health training programmes in ASEAN and the UK. The regional perspective provided a richer understanding of national approaches, and we present a replicable methodology for further international collaboration on workforce mapping. It surfaced opportunities to strengthen competency based education for delivering the EPHFs and to build on regional collaborative initiatives for resourcing training. Leveraging the UK model, ASEAN can work towards standardised curricula and multisectoral entry pathways.
Delivering the World Health Organization (WHO) Roadmap requires a skilled workforce equipped to deliver the Essential Public Health Functions (EPHFs).1,2 The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries have varied public health systems and resources but share a commitment to strengthening regional public health collaboration. This study systematically maps public health training across ASEAN countries, using the United Kingdom as a benchmark, reflecting extensive UK collaboration to advance competency based public health training.
METHODS:
A two stage review was conducted: a scoping review of peer reviewed literature (search date 13.12.2023) and national policy documents, followed by institutional data collection by subject matter experts in each country. Training pathways, curricula, and workforce planning were mapped against the WHO EPHFs for core public health professionals and specialist training linked to national authorities. Comparative analysis included both medical and non medical tracks.
RESULTS:
Training structures, duration, certification, funding, and delivery models varied across ASEAN countries. Most countries offered separate pathways for medical and non medical professionals, with differing entry requirements for bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programmes. Training approaches for the EPHFs varied across countries and functions, using academic, workplace based, or combined models. Workforce planning and regulatory frameworks existed in most ASEAN countries. The UK offered a unified, competency based training scheme for both groups, including a master’s and a portfolio route for accreditation.
CONCLUSIONS:
This study is the first to systematically map national public health training programmes in ASEAN and the UK. The regional perspective provided a richer understanding of national approaches, and we present a replicable methodology for further international collaboration on workforce mapping. It surfaced opportunities to strengthen competency based education for delivering the EPHFs and to build on regional collaborative initiatives for resourcing training. Leveraging the UK model, ASEAN can work towards standardised curricula and multisectoral entry pathways.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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