The opinion, adopted on 14 May at a plenary session of the European Committee of the Regions, stresses that labour shortages in the health sector require a range of tailored solutions, as their root causes vary from region to region.   

Regions and cities warn that areas without good medical care typically lag behind economically, which poses a risk to stability and strain emergency services. They note the importance of promoting healthy workplaces and protecting job satisfaction as means to attract and retain employees and identify effective leadership as a key contributing factor. Local and regional leaders also stress the need for continued efforts to eliminate threatening and violent situations in healthcare. 

In 19 of the 27 Member States, health systems are to some degree decentralised. Regions typically manage hospitals and are major employers in the health sector. As local and regional authorities are often responsible for healthcare, social care and other social services, the opinion argues that they should be actively involved in developing and implementing all EU workforce strategies and plans in these areas . 

The World Health Organization (WHO) projects a shortage of 4.1 million healthcare workers in the EU by 2030, despite the sector employing more health and care professionals than ever. This deficit stems from a variety of factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, a mismatch between supply and demand, and inadequate planning and forecasting. Low salaries, a ‘brain drain’ and poor working conditions are also frequently cited as factors. 

While not all regions experience them to the same degree, many territories — especially rural and remote areas — face significant staffing challenges. The opinion therefore calls on Member States to use available data to identify medical deserts, invest and improve access to healthcare in under-served areas. At the same time, the opinion stresses the need to attract, train and retain health professionals, calling for improved training and career development and supporting recruitment from non-EU countries. It therefore welcomes the EU's proposal to create a talent-matching tool: an IT platform that would facilitate the matching of EU employers with workers from non-EU countries. 

Rapporteur Birgitta Sacrédeus (SE/EPP), member of County Council, Dalarna region: “The supply of skills requires efforts at all levels and from different perspectives. In light of the demographic challenge and the fact that the entire society is in need of labour, it is not possible to focus solely on increasing the number of personnel. There is no simple solution. Many different measures are needed.”  

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