EWRC 2024 Highlights – EUREGHA Session: “Strengthening Europe’s Healthcare Workforce: Attracting and retaining talent in a regional context”

On 10 October, EUREGHA, together with the Committee of the Regions’ NAT Commission and Interregional Group on Health and Well-being, organised an insightful session within the framework of #EURegionsWeek to discuss the importance of addressing shortages, skill mismatches, and poor working conditions heavily impact access to care and the performance of healthcare systems. Attracting and retaining healthcare talent in regions is crucial. The session  explored challenges and strategies for strengthening Europe’s health workforce, enhancing sector attractiveness, and improving working conditions. Discussions aligned with EU initiatives like DG Regio’s Harnessing Talent Platform, focusing on regional approaches to investing in talents and building a resilient and skilled healthcare workforce.

The session was moderated by Michele Calabro, Chair of EUREGHA, and the speakers were:

• Jose Diniz, Medical Doctor specialising in Public Health and PhD Candidate in Health Data Science
• Olena Horleach, Project and Policy Officer at HOSPEEM
• Birgitta Sacrédeus, Chair of the Interregional Group on Health and Wellbeing, Committee of the Regions

The event highlighted the urgent need to improve working conditions and organizational culture in healthcare, as poor environments contribute to workforce shortages. Engaging younger generations by aligning healthcare roles with their focus on preventive care was also emphasized as a key strategy to attract new talent. The challenge of cross-border recognition of medical qualifications, especially for non-EU workers, was raised, calling for more harmonization across Europe. Multilevel governance and EU coordination were praised for addressing systemic issues, like the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, as a model for tackling workforce shortages. Mental health support for healthcare workers was identified as crucial to preventing burnout and retaining staff. Lastly, better funding and region-specific support were deemed essential for sustainable workforce development.

You can read our event report by clicking on the following button.