Valiotis, GeorgeButtigieg, Sandra C.Cicchetti, AmericoDang, RuiJamshed, NabilJevtic, MarijaMagalhães, TeresaNies, HenkPferzinger, MangfredSantana, RuiCorreia, TiagoWeller, EmmiCande, LauraDesson, ZacharyMargheri, Federica2025-05-252025-05-252025-050749-6753PURE: 116730140PURE UUID: 6b1e70ce-0f6a-493b-b2fa-97c039aab0b0Scopus: 105003931370WOS: 01402803900001PubMed: 39853543PubMedCentral: PMC12045765ORCID: /0000-0003-3794-1659/work/184746984http://hdl.handle.net/10362/183419Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s). The International Journal of Health Planning and Management published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.The practice of healthcare management is essential for the efficient operation of health services, encompassing leadership, management, and direction within healthcare organisations. ‘Health management’ extends beyond healthcare management by integrating principles of public health and health policy. As health management is commonly practised but not cohesively recognised, the European Health Management Association (EHMA) conducted this study to develop a cohesive definition of health management. Developed through a qualitative methodology comprising focus group discussions and validation through quantitative expert interviews, this study proposed a holistic definition of health management, incorporating social, environmental and economic determinants of health, cross-sector collaboration, and the ‘One Health’ approach. The publication of this unified definition has important implications for professional training, policy development, and health outcomes. It provides a foundational framework for curricula, informs precise policy formulation, and promotes excellence through health service delivery that reflects efficiency, sustainability, and equity.6357125enghealth managementhealth policyhealthcarepublic healthHealth PolicySDG 3 - Good Health and Well-beingjournal article10.1002/hpm.3903https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105003931370