The European Cancer Organisation (ECO) welcomes today’s decision by the European Parliament to adopt its report on An EU health workforce crisis plan: sustainability of healthcare systems and employment and working conditions in the healthcare sector.

The report represents an important step towards tackling many of the workforce challenges repeatedly raised by Europe’s cancer community.

The report addresses several priorities advocated by the cancer community, including a comprehensive, long-term European healthcare workforce strategy that would grow the health workforce by at least one million professionals by 2034; making the mental health and wellbeing of health and care staff a key performance indicator within health systems; reviewing and modernising the EU Professional Qualifications Directive to better reflect the needs of healthcare professionals; and establishing a European-level monitoring system to anticipate the healthcare workforce supply and demand.

These priorities align closely with the work of ECO’s Time to Accelerate for our Workforce campaign and its Under Pressure Report. ECO’s research identified widespread concerns about excessive workloads, overtime, administrative burden and burnout.

The result was a call for a comprehensive Cancer Workforce Action Plan with stronger European coordination.

Wim Ceelen, Co-Chair of the European Cancer Organisation’s Workforce Network, said: ‘Leaving the health workforce crisis unaddressed means colleagues face growing pressure, less time with patients and an increasing risk of talented professionals leaving cancer care. Without action, these pressures will only grow, putting the quality and sustainability of health care at risk all over Europe.’

ECO now urges the European Commission, EU Member States and other relevant institutions to build on the Parliament’s position and translate these commitments into concrete action. Long-term workforce planning must be matched by investment, improved working conditions, better data and policies that support the recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals across Europe.

Source: ECO