EU pushes for a stronger healthcare future with one million new medical workers

Brussels (eu24news) – The European Union must urgently address a looming healthcare workforce crisis that could leave hospitals and care systems dangerously understaffed by the end of the decade, according to a new report adopted by the European Parliament’s Committees on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) and Public Health (SANT).
MEPs are warning that the EU could face a shortage of nearly one million healthcare professionals by 2030, including doctors and nurses, unless immediate action is taken. In response, lawmakers are calling for a comprehensive EU strategy aimed at increasing the healthcare workforce by at least one million workers between 2028 and 2034.
The INI report, adopted by an overwhelming majority on Wednesday, outlines a series of measures designed to make healthcare professions more attractive and sustainable. These include scholarships funded through EU programmes, cross-border cooperation, better education and training opportunities, and stronger guarantees for fair pay and stable employment.
Lawmakers stressed that improving working conditions is essential to preventing burnout and retaining skilled professionals. According to the report, one in three doctors and nurses in Europe currently experiences mental health challenges linked to excessive workloads and staffing shortages. MEPs are therefore pushing for an obligatory EU framework that would classify unsafe staffing levels as an occupational hazard. The proposal also calls for increased mental health support and measures to reduce the administrative burden placed on frontline healthcare workers.
“The future of European healthcare depends on our ability to invest in people,” said MEP Ruggero RAZZA (ECR, IT), rapporteur for the Public Health Committee. “Healthcare professionals are the backbone of our healthcare systems, and tackling workforce shortages must become a strategic priority for Europe.” MEP András KULJA (EPP, HU), shadow rapporteur for the Public Health Committee, said in a statement “Healthcare workers are the backbone of our health systems. With this report, we send a clear message: Europe must invest in the people who care for us every day. We want to ensure that those taking care of us are themselves supported, valued and given the conditions they need to thrive throughout their careers.”
The report also highlights the importance of increasing EU funding for health systems. MEPs are calling for higher public investment and more efficient use of dedicated EU funds to strengthen healthcare resilience across member states. At the same time, lawmakers see technology as part of the solution. While insisting that human care must remain central, the report supports the wider use of telemedicine and AI-assisted diagnostics, particularly in rural and underserved areas where staff shortages are most severe. Healthcare workers, the report states, should receive proper digital training to ensure they can safely and effectively use emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence tools.
The proposals now await approval by the European Parliament during its plenary session expected in July. If adopted, they could form the basis for one of the EU’s most ambitious healthcare workforce initiatives in decades.