Europe needs more doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals.

The EU should be able to support Member States that want help training more people, making medical careers more attractive and ensuring that staff shortages do not leave entire regions without adequate care, ECR MEP Ruggero Razza said today.

The European Parliament backed this approach on Thursday when it adopted a report co-authored by Razza in Strasbourg. Europe faces a growing shortage of healthcare workers, with many doctors and nurses approaching retirement just as an ageing population is likely to need more care.

Razza said:

“Competences regarding the organisation of healthcare sectors come under the auspices of Member States, and the European Union can’t stand in for Member States. However, we should ensure that we don’t act as a break on effective intervention by Member States.”

“At least one million people are required to work in the healthcare sector in the period running through to 2034. This means we have to step up training capacities in universities, invest in young people and make health professions attractive.”

Another concern is the growing gap in access to healthcare between different regions. Technology and telemedicine can make it easier to reach patients in remote areas and relieve medical staff of unnecessary administrative work, but they cannot substitute for doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals.

Razza said:

“Above all, however, we have to try to do away with imbalances between different regions. Access to healthcare shouldn’t depend on your postcode. We should think about rural areas, islands, mountains and scarcely populated zones with little access to healthcare. We have to use incentives, improve training, study bursaries and work opportunities.

“Technology is an important component, but it can’t replace people.”

For the ECR Group, European cooperation should help Member States strengthen their own healthcare systems, not transfer responsibility for them to Brussels. The EU can support countries that want help training staff, cutting red tape and tackling shortages, while decisions on how healthcare is organised remain with national governments.

The own-initiative report, drawn up jointly by Razza and EPP MEP Loucas Fourlas, was adopted by the European Parliament with 514 votes in favour, 61 against and 33 abstentions.