The World Health Organization (WHO) Symposium on Sustainable Health and Care Delivery Transformation: Modelling and Optimizing the Health and Care Workforce: Looking to the Future brought together health leaders, experts, and policymakers to address the escalating crisis in the European health workforce. Held in Copenhagen, 28 – 30 April 2025, the event focused on key issues such as aging healthcare workers (HCWs), increasing burnout, migration, part-time employment trends, and the mental well-being of professionals.
A central theme of the symposium was the growing misalignment between the healthcare needs of an aging population and the capacity of current health systems to meet those demands. Dr. Natasha Azzopardi-Muscat, WHO European region Director for Country Health Policies and Systems, emphasized the urgent need for family doctors, particularly in rural areas. “We know the benefits of strong primary care,” she noted, “but without enough trained professionals to deliver that care, we are in serious trouble.” She also underscored the importance of embracing technology as a means to transform healthcare delivery. While aging populations bring new complexities, they also present opportunities for innovation. “We need the courage to move forward,” Azzopardi-Muscat said, “embracing technology as a tool—not a replacement—to enhance human-centered care.
Dr. Tomás Zapata, Unit Head for Health Workforce and Service Delivery at the WHO Regional Office for Europe, highlighted the serious challenges facing Europe’s healthcare workforce, including widespread burnout, overwork, and a rapidly growing demand for services. He emphasized the urgent need to retain existing staff, expand the workforce supply, and strengthen workforce planning to ensure systems can meet future needs. Crucially, he stressed that technology and innovation must be designed to support—not replace—healthcare workers, reinforcing the role of digital tools as enablers rather than substitutes in care delivery.
Katarzyna Ptak from DG Santé added that the EU is facing a shortfall of 1.2 million health professionals as of 2022, with declining interest in health careers. This shortage, she noted, could result in a 30% drop in healthcare staff unless significant improvements are made in working conditions and career support. With one in two people in the region being left behind by the changes in healthcare access through technology, experts emphasized the need for new models to regulate technological integration. AI, particularly in diagnostic areas such as breast cancer detection, was noted as a potential game-changer, though speakers stressed that technology should never replace the human touch in care.
The symposium also showcased the importance of flexible workforce planning and the need to organize tasks from individual doctors to multidisciplinary teams. The integration of digital skills was seen as essential in alleviating the burden on healthcare workers. However, successful implementation was recognized as contingent upon context-sensitive policies and strong collaborations among stakeholders. The overarching message from the symposium was clear: there is no one-size-fits-all solution to the health workforce crisis. Building a sustainable and resilient healthcare workforce requires coordinated efforts at both Europe and national levels, informed policymaking, and inclusive stakeholder engagement. WONCA Europe was represented at the symposium by the Working Party on Policy Advocacy, with Sara Ares Blanco, Raquel Gómez Bravo, and Jan De Maeseneer actively participating in the sessions to bring forward the perspective of family medicine.
The WHO also announced plans to launch a report this year on digital tools and AI, as well as a survey focused on the well-being of healthcare workers. This initiative, alongside the establishment of a community of practice, aims to support both healthcare workers and the patients they serve.