On December 13 2023, the HERA Civil Society Forum of the European Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) adopted a discussion paper on the importance of healthcare professionals’ training in health emergency preparedness, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic lessons. The paper highlighted the need for comprehensive training, underlining the pivotal roles of nurses and general practitioners in addressing such crises. Key challenges, including data collection and workforce retention and recruitment were outlined alongside proposed recommendations.
Lessons from the pandemic underscored the necessity for preparedness, with HERA positioned as a significant step toward comprehensive pandemic readiness. COVID-19 has amplified challenges within healthcare systems, leading to nurse shortages, workforce exhaustion, and reduced interest in nursing careers. Strategies adopted during the pandemic, such as increased working hours, the reallocation of staff, and the mobilisation of additional healthcare professionals have ultimately affected workforce retention and patient care negatively.
Despite efforts by the EU and national governments, challenges persist, particularly in addressing the nurse workforce gap, staff shortages, impacts on hospital budgets and workplace tensions due to differing salaries, all exacerbated by COVID-19. Urgent policy considerations, such as promoting nurse retention and preventing dropouts during nursing education, were recommended.
Several recommendations to address healthcare workforce challenges were also formulated. These urged an extension of HERA's mandate in order to encompass comprehensive training for nurses and general practitioners, through mapping existing training, developing targeted modules, and integrating experienced nurses into decision-making bodies to enhance crisis response.
The discussion paper calls for an inclusive Health Crisis Board which would include healthcare professionals, considering their key role in effective crisis management and decision-making during emergencies. Policy adjustments to take healthcare professionals' perspectives into consideration would fortify healthcare systems against future health crises.
Background
The HERA Civil Society Forum (CSF) brings together stakeholders representing patients, consumers, and frontline healthcare professionals to provide a technical and scientific advice to the Commission and the Member States through the HERA Advisory Forum. It monitors research on medical countermeasures as well as industrial and policy developments and ensures that the views and opinions of civil society actors are represented in EU-level preparedness and response planning and contribute to informed decision-making.
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Details
- Publication date
- 19 December 2023
- Author
- Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority