WHO Launches Barcelona Course to Boost Global Health Financing
Barcelona, Monday, 15 September 2025.
The WHO’s Barcelona course, scheduled for October 2025, aims to enhance global health financing strategies, vital for developing resilient healthcare systems amid recent global health challenges.
Strategic Vision for Health Financing
The World Health Organization (WHO) is set to conduct its annual Barcelona course on health financing for universal health coverage (UHC) from October 20 to 24, 2025. This strategic initiative, organized by the WHO Barcelona Office for Health Systems Financing, is designed to strengthen global health financing strategies, addressing the critical need to build resilient healthcare systems worldwide. The course is supported financially by the Government of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia, Spain, emphasizing a collaborative approach towards achieving sustainable universal health coverage [1].
Course Content and Target Audience
The Barcelona course is structured as an intensive training program targeting policymakers and healthcare professionals. It aims to equip these participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to improve health financing systems. The course covers a range of topics, including coordinating health systems reform, financial protection, revenue raising and pooling, purchasing health systems, and aligning financial incentives with service delivery. This comprehensive curriculum is tailored for countries or regions in Europe with advanced health systems, including member states of the European Union [1].
Historical Impact and Future Prospects
Since its inception in 2011, the WHO Barcelona course has trained over 1,000 experts, demonstrating its significant impact on global health financing education. Tailored editions of the course have been specifically organized for experts in Central Asia, the Western Balkans, and several other regions over the past two years. These efforts underscore the course’s role in supporting countries facing unique health financing challenges. By continuing to offer specialized training, the WHO aims to foster long-term improvements in healthcare systems globally [1].
Long-term Implications for Global Health
The training provided through the WHO Barcelona course is expected to have substantial long-term implications for global health systems. By equipping policymakers with effective health financing strategies, the course contributes to the development of resilient healthcare systems capable of withstanding future global health challenges. As the world grapples with evolving health threats, initiatives like this are crucial in ensuring universal access to healthcare and financial sustainability within health systems. The WHO’s commitment to such educational programs highlights the importance of continuous learning and adaptation in the health sector [1].