B.8. Skills building seminar: Designing inclusive health systems: an interactive skills building workshop
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Background Health systems across Europe are operating in increasingly diverse population contexts, with growing cultural and ethnic diversity shaping service needs and patterns of care. Health services designed for whole-population delivery must therefore actively consider diversity to ensure appropriateness, inclusivity, accessibility, quality, and cultural safety. Failure to do so risks creating structural barriers to access and care, thereby widening existing health inequities. There is a need for practical approaches that support health systems in operationalising inclusivity in service design and delivery. Objectives This skills-building workshop aims to identify practical measures through which health services operating at population level can become more inclusive, sustainable, effective, and high-quality for diverse populations. The workshop introduces the 4Cs methodology (critical reflection, context and data, co-design, and communication) as a conceptual framework for operationalising inclusivity in health systems. The framework is practice-tested across diverse European contexts of the Joint Action on Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes (JACARDI) in 18 countries and 143 projects. Structure This 60-minute skills-building workshop includes one short expert presentation introducing the 4Cs methodology, followed by an interactive learning café. The learning café is structured around four thematic stations, each corresponding to one of the 4Cs: Critical reflection: examining how biases, privileges and power dynamics shape health service design, delivery and access. Context and data: using data and contextual understanding of population diversity to identify inequities and guide equitable service planning. Co-design involving patients and communities in designing and improving health services to ensure relevance, accessibility and equity. Communication: ensuring health information and service communication are inclusive, accessible and responsive to diverse populations. Participants will rotate between stations in small groups and co-create ideas on core components of diversity-inclusive health systems from each perspective. Each station will focus on identifying practical measures, tools and system-level changes that improve inclusivity and responsiveness in health services. Facilitators at each station will guide discussion and synthesis of key outputs. Added value The workshop moves beyond conceptual discussion of inclusivity towards concrete, participant-generated solutions for health system improvement. By applying the 4Cs framework in a learning café format, participants co-produce practical strategies for making health services more responsive to population diversity. The interactive format supports peer learning, cross-country exchange, and translation of equity principles into actionable health system improvements. Key messages • Health systems must embed inclusivity across design and delivery to respond effectively to increasing population diversity and reduce inequities. • The 4Cs framework supports co-creation of practical actions to make health services more inclusive, accessible and responsive to diverse populations. Speakers/Panellists Natalia Skogberg National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
Authors: Natalia Skogberg, Laura Musta
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,181
OpenAlex ID: W7223710233