12 January 2026

European doctors’ highlights from 2025

In 2025, CPME continued to advance the voice of the medical profession in European policy. We brought the voices of doctors from over 30 countries to the European Parliament, called for immediate action on the health workforce, and advocated on a wide variety of topics in public health, pharmaceutical and digital policy.

Call for immediate and coordinated action to address the health workforce crisis

In March, doctors from over 30 countries gathered in the European Parliament to discuss sustainable solutions to the European health workforce crisis at an event hosted by MEP Dr András Kulja and MEP Tilly Metz. A full report and a video recording of the event is available here.

The event displayed videos from our #DoctorsVoice campaign, in which doctors from across sharing their real experiences.

Following the event, the European Parliament is currently drafting an own-initiative report on the situation of the health workforce, which would be the first policy on the topic of an EU institution in this decade. CPME is providing active input, through a joint policy on the health workforce with European Medical Organisations and a joint statement with nurses and community pharmacists.

Presented ambitions for new EU mandate to Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi

On 5 February, our President, Dr Ole Johan Bakke, and our Secretary General, Sarada Das, met the European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, Olivér Várhelyi. They presented the five ambitions of our Health Check for Europe 2024-2029, emphasising that the EU needs a coherent evidence-based vision for health in Europe and beyond for equitable access to healthcare for patients. They also underlined the importance of European solidarity.

CPME General Assembly discussed Greek and European health policy challenges, emphasising the need to invest in the health workforce

Our General Assembly met in Athens from 24-25 October to discuss the health policy agenda, both in Greece and Europe as a whole, and concluded that policy-makers must invest in staffing, training, and medical expertise in response to growing workforce and efficiency pressures. Read a report here, and about Greek doctors sharing their personal experiences here.

Advocated for the EU not to miss an opportunity to restore the balance in the pharmaceutical sector

As the revision of the EU’s General Pharmaceutical legislation entered the final negotiations between the EU institutions, we reaffirmed that the EU could not miss the opportunity to rebalance the pharmaceutical sector for the benefit of patients and healthcare systems. This culminated several years of providing doctors' input to the revision. The new legislation was adopted on 11 December 2025.

Made proposals to improve the Critical Medicines Act

We called for the darft Critical Medicines Act to address security of supply for the benefit of European patients, leaving no one behind. CPME will continue to provide input into its conclusion.

Set the course towards implementing a user-friendly and intuitive electronic health record

On 26 March, the day that the European Health Data Space (EHDS) Regulation entered into force, we published a policy which highlights the essential features needed for electronic health records (EHR) systems to meet the needs of healthcare professionals.

To help achieve this goal, CPME is a partner in the i2X project which launched in April 2025. It will, for the first time, offer an exchange format to connect electronic health record systems across Europe. Funded by the European Commission with over €8 million, the initiative brings together 38 partners from 12 European Union Member States.

CPME also continues to provide input to the Joint Actions preparing the implementing legislation for the EHDS.

Called for clean air measures through the EU Healthy Air Coalition (EUHAC)

On 28 January, CPME and the other EU Healthy Air Coalition (EUHAC) members organised a high-level event in the European Parliament, hosted by MEP Javi Lopez. Dr Ina Kelly highlighted that better air quality is needed in Europe as in addition to premature mortality, the impacts from living with air pollution related diseases are still very serious. Throughout 2025, EUHAC continued to develop its voice through numerous letter and statements to European leaders.

Contributed to landmark survey reporting worrying proportion of doctors experiencing depression and passive suicidal thoughts

To mark the annual World Mental Health Day, the WHO/Europe published the results of the Mental Health of Nurses and Doctors (MeND) survey. CPME and the national medical associations assisted to collect over 90 000 responses from all 27 countries of the European Union, Iceland and Norway.

European Health Alliance on Alcohol launched to reduce the unsustainable toll of alcohol harms in Europe

CPME joined the European Health Alliance on Alcohol, which was launched as a new coalition of health organisations and experts to advocate for the reduction of alcohol-related illnesses, injuries and deaths. WHO/Europe is coordinating the launch of the Alliance together with the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL).

CPME magazines focused on artificial intelligence in healthcare and the role for prevention in solving the health workforce crisis

If you would like to know more about our work last year, our magazines, published twice a year, provide an excellent summary of work. The Spring magazine included an in-depth report artificial intelligence in healthcare, as well as basic medical education, air quality and alcohol labelling.

The two main themes of the Summer 2025 edition the ongoing health workforce crisis and the need for prevention to ease pressure on the health system.

Defended independence of the medical profession

CPME also continued to defend medical ethics and support its members in their efforts to safeguard independence of the profession and the profession's representation, as well as doctors' rights. European doctors stand as one.