MEP Furlas presents EU report on health workers' conditions
The European Parliament debated a report co-authored by Cypriot MEP Loukas Furlas on tackling the EU's health workforce crisis, with better working conditions and support for medical professionals at its core.
The European Parliament discussed a plan to address the health workforce crisis across the EU during its plenary session in Strasbourg on Thursday, with a focus on the sustainability of healthcare systems, employment and working conditions, as reported by Cyprus Mail.
The report was co-authored by DISY MEP Loukas Furlas of the European People's Party and Italian MEP Ruggero Razza of the European Conservatives and Reformists. Health and Animal Welfare Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi also took part in the debate.
Furlas said the report was the product of extensive negotiations and compromises, describing it as one that should unite MEPs because it concerns the people who keep Europe's health systems running. He pointed to doctors, nurses, pharmacists and all health professionals who cared for citizens daily and stood on the front line when the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a standstill.
He stressed that strong health systems are impossible when the people serving them are worn down by endless shifts, asked to care for far too many patients, and ultimately leave the profession or their home country. He also highlighted the wide gaps in pay, working conditions and career prospects between member states, saying these inequalities fuel brain drain and further weaken the health systems of countries losing staff.
Commission warns of a shortfall of over one million professionals
Razza said that while debates on the future of European healthcare often focus on new medicines, technologies and artificial intelligence, the core issue remains the people who deliver care. He cited a shortage of nearly one million doctors and midwives, with 30% of European doctors and 18% of nurses over the age of 55, and four in ten doctors already past that age in 12 of the 27 member states.
Commissioner Varhelyi said Europe faces a shortfall of more than one million health professionals and that the problem cannot be tackled piecemeal. He noted that organising health systems is a member state competence, but the EU can support national efforts and reduce bureaucratic obstacles. Furlas called for investment in skills and mental health support for health workers, saying that protecting patients first requires protecting those who care for them.
What it means for residents
The debate in Strasbourg may feel remote, but the staffing pressures it describes are already visible in Cyprus — from waiting times for appointments to the number of doctors and nurses available in public hospitals. If the report's recommendations translate into EU funding and national policy changes, residents could see gradual improvements in care capacity and access.
- Watch public healthcare staffing — any new EU-backed measures could influence how quickly Cyprus fills vacancies and retains medical staff.
- Funding may follow — EU financial instruments mentioned in the debate could support training and mental health programmes for health workers.
- No immediate change — the report is a first step; concrete effects on appointments, waiting lists and services will depend on decisions by member states.
This text is written from the source article and is not a translation of it.
