Building Capacities to Effectively Implement the Family Health Team Approach in Jordan

In November 2025, EMPHNET and its training arm, the International Academy of Public Health (IAPH), conducted a five-day Training of Trainers (TOT) workshop for 25 doctors and nurses working across primary health care centers across Jordan.

Hosted at EMPHNET’s headquarters in Amman, the workshop was designed to equip healthcare professionals with the competencies required to implement the Family Health Team (FHT) approach, a collaborative model where doctors, nurses, social workers, and pharmacists work together to provide comprehensive, people-centered, and coordinated care.

The sessions relied on specialized resources, including the Family Health Team Approach Manual, the Supportive Supervision Guide, and clinical case studies. Designed for staff working in primary and comprehensive health centers, the workshop not only prepared participants to adopt the FHT model in their own centers but also empowered them to train their colleagues, thereby supporting the nationwide scale-up of FHT capabilities.

Throughout the workshop, participants gained practical skills in supportive supervision, interactive training methodologies, and quality improvement techniques to enhance the delivery of primary healthcare services.

The event was inaugurated by Dr. Riyadh Al Shayyab, the Director of Primary Health Care at the Jordanian Ministry of Health. The Ministry of Health was acknowledged throughout the workshop for its leadership and substantial efforts in modernizing primary health care services across the country, particularly through its commitment to scaling the Family Health Team approach.

During one of the keynote presentations, Dr. Ghada Al Kayalli from the World Health Organization (WHO) outlined the core principles of primary health care in Jordan and stressed that the FHT approach should become the standard model of primary care nationwide. She emphasized that adopting team-based, patient-centered care is essential for ensuring equitable and high-quality services for all populations, including refugees.

Highlighting the workshop’s significance, Prof. Yousef Khader, the Director of EMPHNET’s Center of Excellence for Applied Epidemiology, stated that: "Jordan is among the first countries to implement the Family Health Team initiative, demonstrating strong national commitment to advancing primary health care. This workshop reinforces the importance of applying the FHT concept effectively and equipping participants with the skills to transfer this knowledge to their colleagues. Supportive supervision will continue to strengthen teamwork, problem-solving, and service quality across health centers."

Workshop participants reflected on the relevance of the training. Dr. Aya Al-Majali noted that “Collaboration is the only way forward, and comprehensive care isn’t optional; it is the foundation of everything we do. The Family Health team is the beating heart and backbone of primary healthcare.” Participant Najwa Dheif added, “Teamwork goes beyond coordination, it is the essence of healthcare and the shared commitment to providing every patient with the best health possible health outcomes.”

This workshop was conducted under the “Family Health Team Approach for Modernizing Primary Health Care Services in Jordan” project implemented jointly by EMPHNET, the Jordanian Ministry of Health, and WHO. The initiative aims to introduce and institutionalize the FHT approach to better meet the evolving health needs of Jordanians and the refugee population.