The Health ecosystem includes:
- Pharmaceuticals and other medical products
- Personal protective equipment
- Medical services, hospitals, nursing homes, residential care
Find out more about the LSP(s) in this ecosystem and their commitments below:
Challenges
The health workforce represents a significant share of the European workforce. Despite its importance, the health sector continues to face considerable workforce challenges which were exacerbated by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. A starting point to address these challenges is by tackling the urgent need for health workforce upskilling and reskilling. However, the health sector is faced with complexities that make upskilling and reskilling a rather difficult exercise. Such complexities include the rapid transformation of the sector – including digital and green transformations – coupled with the known workforce shortages, further increased by large-scale resignation of health professionals, in particular from the frontline. This comes as a consequence of increased workloads and difficult working conditions and impacts the ability and willingness of health professionals to participate in training opportunities. Despite these difficulties, developing skills which support the health sector’s transformation is essential. Digitalisation is core to this transformative process. Nevertheless, the health sector is lagging behind when it comes to seizing digital opportunities. Training on digital technologies is often offered only as an optional course and health professionals report that they do not have enough opportunities to make full use of digital technologies. Besides digitalisation, a future-ready health workforce should also be resourced and trained to engage with the green transition towards more environmentally sustainable health provision which respects the ‘one health’ principles.
Size of the labour market
Almost 15 million people in Europe work in healthcare occupations.
Commitments made under the Pact for Skills
The Health Large Scale Partnership will create and implement a shared model for the skills development of the health workforce in Europe, with a particular focus on green and digital skills. In addition, the Health Partnership will also establish a culture of life-long learning, will ensure dialogue with an between health professionals, and will aim to address the disparities among health and education systems. Last but not least of all, the Partnership will foster exchange of data on skills gaps and needs for existing and emerging occupations. The partnership will nourish equal opportunities to upskilling and reskilling within the health sector