27 May 2025

Organisations representing 5 million doctors, nurses and community pharmacists urgently call for concrete EU action on healthcare workforce

In light of the health workforce crisis across Europe, the Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME), the European Federation of Nurses Associations (EFN), and the Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union (PGEU), together representing over 5 million healthcare professionals, are jointly calling the European Parliament to integrate core recommendations on Recruitment, Retention, and Resilience for an EU Healthcare Workforce Strategy, in the EMPL-SANT Joint Own-Initiative Report on the EU Healthcare Workforce.

Download joint statement

Regarding recruitment, it is important to underline that education and training standards set by EU legislation such as Directive 2005/36/EC on the Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications are not lowered in an effort to address workforce shortages. In addition, the value of mentorship programmes and the importance of EU Member States being self-sufficient in educating and training a domestic healthcare workforce are highlighted.
Regarding retention of existing professionals, the statement calls for serious investment in safe working conditions and fair remuneration, as well as the establishment of policies on safe staffing levels and a zero-tolerance approach on violence against health professionals.
Regarding resilience, there is a call for better use of EU policies in particular funding tools to build capacity for the health workforce.

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