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