Session 10

Collaborating for health workforce excellence

Investing in Europe’s health professionals

Organised by the European Commission Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE)

The health workforce is the beating heart of our health systems. Yet EU countries are struggling to retain and recruit health workers to meet the growing demands for treatment and care. Demographic shifts in the EU—such as an ageing population, declining birth rates, and longer life expectancy — pose critical challenges for our health systems and healthcare workforce. Moreover, the health workforce itself is ageing. How can we inspire and encourage young people to join the health workforce? What will the health workforce of the future look like? How will the climate crisis, digital transformation and AI impact the work and skills needed in the health sector?

This session will address some of these questions, including policies and initiatives to improve working conditions, workload management and career prospects. It will also look at promoting workforce planning and training, enhancing skills and education, and leveraging digital and Artificial Intelligence technologies.

Join us to hear directly from those on the frontline of treatment and care about the actions that support Member States in addressing health workforce challenges and how to build a more resilient health workforce that can provide high quality treatment and care to all who need it and cope with health crises.