The aim. The aim of this study is to substantiate the necessity and relevance of developing professional standards for public health professionals/specialists in the healthcare system as an effective tool to enhance sanitary and epidemiological safety in the context of EU harmonization and preparedness for emergency situations in Ukraine.

Materials and methods. The study employed methods of systemic, comparative, and legal-logical
analysis of the regulatory framework in the field of public health in Ukraine, WHO, and the EU.

Review. The national system for regulating professional training in public health, particularly for specialists with higher non-medical education, is currently in the process of development and institutionalization.

Conclusions. The development and implementation of professional standards for public health professionals with higher non-medical education in preventive healthcare is a strategically important step for Ukraine. It will ensure: enhanced workforce capacity through a systematic definition of knowledge, skills, and attitudes (K/S/A), facilitating the formation of integrated qualifications and interdisciplinary competencies; harmonization with European and international standards via the integration of WHO–ASPHER approaches, the European Qualifications Framework, and Directive 2005/36/EC, promoting qualification comparability, labor mobility, and improved healthcare service quality; strengthening of patient safety culture by incorporating safety culture assessment algorithms into professional standards, reinforcing preventive measures, ethical accountability, transparent incident reporting, and teamwork; implementation of readiness indices and performance monitoring using PHEP indicators, providing a quantitative basis for assessing institutional and workforce preparednes and enabling annual monitoring and continuous improvement; support for continuous professional development through competency frameworks and readiness indicators, serving as the foundation for CPD programs to maintain up-to-date knowledge and skills in emergency response, increasing the resilience of the healthcare system in wartime and post-war conditions. Overall, the scientifically grounded development of a modern professional standard in the field of public health will enhance the adaptability of the national healthcare system to crises, improve sanitary and epidemiological safety, and promote the integration of Ukrainian professionals into the European and global public health workforce.

professional standards, public health professionals/specialists, non-medical education, sanitary and epidemiological safety, emergency preparedness, WHO, European Union.

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