WHO Highlights Severe Shortage of Healthcare Professionals in the EU
Brussels: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a report highlighting an urgent need for 1.2 million healthcare professionals across the European Union. Nurses, in particular, are identified as critical to the functioning of health systems. However, declining interest in nursing careers in over half of EU countries poses a significant barrier to addressing this crisis.
The report projects a global shortfall of 18 million healthcare workers by 2030, signalling a worsening of the situation in the coming years.
Nursing Graduates: Stark Regional Disparities
Data from Eurostat (2020) reveals significant disparities in the number of nursing graduates across Europe. Norway leads with 75 nursing graduates per 100,000 people, followed by Denmark (44.1) and Sweden (43.5). By contrast, Bulgaria and Romania lag far behind, with only 6.9 and 6.4 nursing graduates per 100,000 people, respectively.
High Demand in Seven EU Countries
The EURES report identifies seven countries with particularly high demand for healthcare professionals: Switzerland, Norway, Germany, Ireland, Austria, Denmark, and the Netherlands. Among EU nations, Ireland, Norway, and Switzerland rely heavily on foreign doctors, while Ireland, Switzerland, and Austria are particularly dependent on foreign-trained nurses.
The demand extends beyond nurses to include specialist doctors, general practitioners, midwives, healthcare assistants, physiotherapists, pharmacists, dentists, audiologists, and speech therapists.
EU Initiatives to Address the Crisis
In response to the shortage, the European Commission has allocated €1.3 million to initiatives aimed at retaining and attracting healthcare professionals within the Schengen area. This program, launched in Warsaw, Poland, will span 36 months and prioritise countries facing the most severe workforce challenges.
Key measures include:
- Mentoring Programmes: Designed to support and guide nurses early in their careers.
- Impact Assessments: Evaluating workforce trends to develop targeted strategies.
- Well-Being Initiatives: Focusing on improving working conditions and job satisfaction.
- Digital Transformation: Introducing technology-driven solutions to streamline healthcare delivery.
These measures aim to attract young talent and improve retention rates among existing healthcare professionals.
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