In Europe, WHO recommendations have sparked a sustained effort to document existing, related practices in the region, and to facilitate joint learning through a series of subregional workshops organized by WHO and the Royal Tropical Institute in Amsterdam.21 These work- shops have allowed for a detailed mapping of current policies – and an informed exchange on the challenges in implementing them – in 20 countries, notably in the south and east of the region. Initial findings from these countries (Table 4) indicate that the recruitment of health workers to remote and rural areas and their retention in such areas have been promoted by a range of policies covering education, regulation and financial, professional and personal support. How- ever, the success of these systems is often difficult to evaluate. There is a need for situation analysis and impact assessment, which are both identified as important aspects of the successful implementation of WHO guidelines. As the recommended interventions should be “bundled” and can be costly, any mismatch between what is proposed and what may be effective can lead to a substantial waste of resources.