Fellow 13 (project 3.14)

Workforce shortages are a global challenge that have become increasingly acute in recent years. At the same time, expectations for healthcare service delivery have evolved, particularly following the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, there has been a rapid uptake of eHealth—a broad term encompassing information and communication technologies (ICT) designed to support health and healthcare services in a cost-effective and secure manner. 
To ensure the effective integration of these technologies, it is essential to understand their impact on healthcare workers and on the value of the services being delivered. This research will explore how eHealth solutions influence workforce sustainability, efficiency, and care quality, helping to inform future implementation strategies. 

The fellow will conduct an inventory of newly introduced ICT solutions in healthcare delivery in Slovenia and assess the existing evidence base on their impact. Through case studies, the fellow will evaluate and optimize the implementation of key eHealth technologies—such as e-prescription, e-referral, patient summary records, and the digital embedding of clinical guidelines—to ensure they effectively support human resources in delivering value-based healthcare. 
An inclusive development approach will be central to the research, involving healthcare professionals, policymakers, and technology developers in the design and evaluation of eHealth solutions. By actively incorporating diverse perspectives and end-user feedback, the research will help identify barriers and facilitators to adoption and ensure that digital health solutions are accessible, practical, and aligned with the needs of both healthcare workers and patients. 
To provide a broader perspective, the research will include comparative case studies from other healthcare systems, identifying best practices and lessons learned from their experiences with eHealth implementation. This analysis will help determine the key elements that drive the successful adoption of digital health solutions, ensuring that they enhance workforce efficiency, service quality, and patient outcomes. 
International secondments will form a substantial part of the research, with the fellow spending time at leading institutions in the Netherlands, Italy, and Canada. These secondments will provide opportunities to explore different eHealth adoption models, engage with health system stakeholders, and refine the practical applicability of research findings to improve digital health implementation strategies in Slovenia and beyond.

The Centre for Health Care at the National Institute of Public Health conducts research, development, and analysis on health systems and services. Our multidisciplinary team includes public health specialists, health economists, and other experts. 
We collaborate closely with other centers within our institution, particularly with the Health Data Centre and the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ljubljana. Our work addresses national priorities for health system knowledge and evidence, identified in consultation with the Ministry of Health. 
In addition to national projects, we actively participate in and coordinate international health systems and services research, with a strong focus on EU-funded initiatives. The fellow will be supervised by researchers with extensive experience in health system performance assessment, including involvement in HealthIntelAct’s predecessor, the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Training Network for Health System Performance Professionals (HealthPros). 
This project will run in close collaboration with the University of Amsterdam – Amsterdam UMC, department of Public and Occupational Health (coordinator of HealthIntelAct). 

• Candidates should have a Master’s degree in health services research, health sciences, medicine, psychology, public health, health economics, applied statistics, social sciences, or a related field.  
• Basic statistical knowledge and experience with data analysis software (R, SPSS, SAS or similar)  
• Strong analytical skills and problem-solving abilities 
• The candidate should have an interest in health systems and performance measurement 
• Excellent higher education track record and strong scientific curiosity.  
• Fluent spoken and written English skills 

In addition, the following experience would be helpful, but not essential: 

• Experience in performing health systems or health services research 
• Advanced statistical skills 
• Experience in working with large databases 
• Practical knowledge of health services operations (for example through clinical experience, participation in research or management work in a healthcare organization) 
• Experience in studying European healthcare systems, particularly in the context of health system performance assessment 

We seek a highly motivated aspiring researcher with a strong interest in conducting research, who thrives in an interdisciplinary environment and project, and can work both independently and as part of a team. 

This 3-year PhD position is funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions of the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program under grant agreement No 101168576.  You will be appointed as fulltime PhD for 3 years with the National Institute of Public Health in Slovenia (Nacionalni inštitut za javno zdravje)]. The Marie Skłodowska-Curie (MSCA) programme offers an attractive salary and working conditions. The successful candidates will receive a salary in accordance with the MSCA regulations for early-stage researchers. Exact salary will be confirmed upon appointment [Living Allowance = €3.400 * (country specific correction factor for SL) 0.833 = €2.832,2 + Monthly mobility allowance = €600. An additional monthly allowance of €660 is applicable depending on family situation. In addition to their individual scientific projects, all fellows will benefit from further continuing education, which includes internships and secondments, a variety of training modules as well as transferable skills courses and active participation in workshops and conferences. 

Be aware the contracts include social security coverage providing at least sickness and parental benefits, invalidity and accidents at work and occupational diseases, covering the fellows in every place of implementation of HealthIntelAct activities. As these will be paid by the employer and depend on country-specific regulations, the final net salary that each fellow will receive may differ. 

See recruitment procedure. You can apply using the online application form. For more information about the position you can contact Mr. Mircha Poldrugovac (Mircha.poldrugovac@nijz.si), telephone: +386 1 244 15 08  

The National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) is Slovenia’s central institution for public health practice, research, and education. Its academic staff work across various fields, including epidemiology of communicable and non-communicable diseases, health promotion, health protection, health system research, and national coordination of preventive programs in primary health care. NIJZ also serves as the central statistical authority in health. 
While public health practice involves multiple organizations and professions, in Slovenia -as in many other countries-NIJZ plays a key role in delivering essential public health functions and services. 
NIJZ’s primary mission is to conduct health research, protect and improve population health, and promote disease prevention. Its main activities, funded by the Ministry of Health, include national health statistics, public health and health system research, health threat identification and response, health promotion programs, and providing a scientific foundation for evidence-based health policies and preventive measures. 
Doctoral degrees for fellows based at the National Institute of Public Health will be awarded by the University of Amsterdam (the Netherlands) under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. Dionne Kringos, who is appointed at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Amsterdam.