Young Think Policy Briefs - Health

About the Program

The Young Think Policy Briefs program is one of the initiatives undertaken by Young Think, designed specifically for Polish university students. The program is conducted entirely online and facilitates collaboration between young minds and seasoned experts, working jointly to produce a "policy brief"—a document comprising both an analytical and substantive component (a regulatory impact assessment) and a journalistic component (an op-ed article). The ultimate outcome of this collaboration is not merely a general analysis or overview; rather, each final document culminates in a "policy pitch"—a concrete proposal aimed at achieving measurable results. Furthermore, to ensure these policy proposals reach the public discourse, the accompanying op-ed articles are published through our media partner.

Themes

For this year's edition of Young Think Policy Briefs, we have chosen to focus on public policy within the healthcare sector.

Mental Health

This area of ​​policy briefs focuses on the challenges and solutions related to the mental health of children, adolescents, and adults across key life settings—education, family, and the workplace. Authors may analyze the functioning of psychological and psychiatric support within the education system, including the availability of specialists, the role of schools in the early identification of problems, and the effectiveness of health education and prevention programs. Another significant theme will be the recruitment, training, and career paths of professionals working in the field of child and adolescent mental health, as well as the systemic barriers contributing to specialist shortages. Within this topic, analyses regarding mental health prevention in the workplace are also welcome, with a particular focus on preventing professional burnout and promoting employee well-being. A complementary perspective will be that of the family—specifically, supporting parents in caring for their children's mental health, the coordination of services, and the role of employers and the private sector in building a cohesive support ecosystem. Policy briefs in this segment will demonstrate how preventive, educational, and systemic interventions can improve long-term psychological well-being and reduce the societal costs associated with mental health disorders.

Healthcare Administration and Digitalization

This segment of policy briefs is aimed at individuals interested in the organizational and technological aspects of healthcare system operations; it therefore offers a space particularly open to participants with backgrounds in management, public administration, or data science. Participants may address issues such as the optimization of waiting lists and service accessibility, the use of predictive algorithms in resource planning, or the development of telemedicine and community-based care. This area may also feature analyses concerning the interoperability of IT systems, public-private partnership models for consolidating and sharing medical data, as well as the barriers to implementing digital solutions in healthcare facilities of varying sizes. In their policy briefs, participants will demonstrate how modern managerial and digital tools can enhance system efficiency, reduce waiting times for services, and alleviate the burden on traditional hospital infrastructure.

Education and Training of Healthcare Professionals

A category focusing on the educational system for healthcare workers and medical professions. Brief participants may address issues such as systems for standardizing internships in healthcare, the possibility of undertaking practical training in private healthcare facilities, or the reintroduction of nursing high schools. This segment seeks to address structural problems within the Polish healthcare education system that contribute to a shortage of medical personnel. Given the requirement for in-depth knowledge of the Polish system for medical education and professional development, we anticipate that this sector will primarily attract students of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, or nursing. Potential topics within this sector may also include briefs concerning crisis preparedness training for medical staff, the introduction of the surgical assistant profession, or changes to the curricula for physicians, nurses, physiotherapists, or psychologists.

Prevention

This segment of policy briefs focuses on measures aimed at strengthening the general health of the population and mitigating disease risks across their various dimensions—ranging from data-driven solutions to informational and systemic interventions. Participants may address issues such as early diagnosis and regular preventive screenings—including in the field of oncology—as well as challenges associated with lifestyle diseases, such as obesity and diabetes. This area may also feature analyses concerning alcohol and anti-tobacco policies, as well as other regulations that shape the daily choices and habits impacting public health. In their policy briefs, participants will demonstrate how appropriately designed public policies can effectively reduce the burden of disease and improve long-term health outcomes.