Development of public health training in Hungary--an exercise in international co-operation

Following the fall of Communism, the countries of Central and Eastern Europe have been restructuring their health systems. Restructured medical education is vital to, and has been supported by, the European Union TEMPUS (Trans-European Mobility Scheme for University Studies) scheme. An example is a three-year project in Hungary to develop undergraduate and postgraduate medical education in public health. The project team (CNPHH) included representatives from all Hungarian medical schools and universities in Western Europe and Canada. The project involved assessing the needs of the Hungarian departments and developing a strategy involving transfer of skills in modern public health and educational methods, study visits and courses in Hungary and at Western universities, and capital funding. The project provides a model for others wishing to develop or restructure their education at national or local levels. This paper describes the methods used, outcomes achieved, and lessons learned.