Joint practitioners meeting, 13 October

At a meeting of the EuropeanGeneralPracticeResearch NetworkandTheEuropeanRuralandIsolatedPractitioners Association, health Commissioner Borg underlined the importance of familydoctorsandprimarycaredoctorsinthedeliveryofcaretopatients as they often are thefirstportof call for diagnosis, treatment and advice. He stated that studieshaveshownthatstrongprimarycaresystemscontributetohighersatisfactionamongst patients and reduced spending on healthcare. However, there are critical shortages, with anaverage ofjust75familydoctorsperonehundred thousand inhabitants in the EU – and the distribution of professionals being very widespread across the EU. Duetotheageingofourpopulation,demandforhealthcarewillinevitablyincrease; morehealth professionals are required atatimewhenthere will be fewer available.

Mr Borg emphasized that eveninthistougheconomicenvironment,thehealthsectoriskeydriverforjobswithanestimated8millionjobopeningsforecastbetween2010 and 2020.

He reminded the audience of anActionPlanaimedataddressing health professional shortages adopted by the Commission last year. This setsoutfourareasforEuropeancooperation:

• A JointActiononworkforceplanningandforecasting
• initiativestobetteranticipatefuturespecificskillsneeded,particularlyinnursing
• Fosterexchangeofgoodpracticeon strategiestorecruitandretainhealthprofessionals.
• secureandmaintainaskilledandmotivatedhealthworkforce

For all speeches: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/health_consumer/dyna/borg/speeches_en.cfm