The event organised by the European Policy
Center focused on turning the current and future challenges healthcare systems
and the healthcare workforce will be facing into opportunities.
The digitalisation of healthcare creates an
urgent need to upskill and reskill Europe’s healthcare workforce. Digital tools
have the potential to improve care quality and accessibility, as well as reduce
healthcare workers’ workload. However, without the required skills and
knowledge, digital tools could create additional burdens for healthcare
workers. This issue was addressed in an in-person policy dialogue in the
context of the European Year of Skills. The dialogue focused on what action is
needed to equip healthcare professionals with the skills required for the
digitalisation of the health sector and how the EU can support member states in
this endeavour. Facilitated by the Associate Director and Head of the Social
Europe and Well-being Programme Elizabeth Kuiper, speakers from different
backgrounds like decision, policy-makers, researchers among others, presented
their approaches and possible solution on how to upskill and reskill Europe’s
healthcare force.
Henriette Hansen, EU Project Manager from the
South Denmark European Office, presented EUVECA’s potential and opportunities
for effectively implementing digitalisation and new digital tools in European
healthcare systems to decrease the burden on healthcare workers. She emphasised
that EUVECA aims to contribute not only to the digital transition but also to
the creation of healthcare systems and solutions. EUVECA focuses on high
priorities such as ageing population, modern health consumers, the evolving
roles of the healthcare sector, and personalised medicine. EUVECA intends to
train healthcare staff for a yet unknown future, and the seven regional hubs
aim to collaborate closely among healthcare providers and students.
Additionally, EUVECA is developing a European platform where healthcare
professionals and students from different regions can collaborate through
webinars and apprenticeships.
In summary, the event underscored the necessity
for action to prepare healthcare professionals with the skills needed to
navigate successfully the digitalisation of the health sector. Projects like
EUVECA are critical in contributing to a more technologically adept and
well-equipped healthcare workforce to face future challenges.
