The European Parliament's Committees on Public Health and Employment and Social Affairs voted on 3 June 2026 to adopt a draft report on an EU health workforce crisis plan, with rapporteur Adam Jarubas (EPP) framing staff shortages as a Union-wide challenge requiring coordinated action. The report, adopted by a strong majority in a roll-call vote, focuses on working conditions, regional disparities, mental well-being, and human-centric digitalisation.
Li Andersson (The Left) noted that 865 amendments were tabled, underscoring the high level of engagement from MEPs. Loucas Fourlas (EPP) and Ruggero Razza (ECR) praised cross-group cooperation during the drafting process. The vote saw broad adoption of compromise amendments, but several stand-alone amendments—including numbers 395, 422, 431, 572, 573, 421, 614, 616, and 664—were rejected.
The report now moves to the full Parliament for a plenary vote. If adopted, it would call on the European Commission to propose a comprehensive strategy addressing recruitment and retention of healthcare workers, investment in training, and improved data collection on workforce needs. The plan is expected to have significant implications for healthcare professionals, patients, and national health systems across the EU, potentially leading to better working conditions and more resilient healthcare delivery, while also requiring member states to align with EU-level targets and possibly increase public spending on health.