The World Health Organization’s Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe) and the European Commission have partnered in a £1.3 million initiative to tackle the ongoing shortage of nurses across the European Union. The funding, sourced from the EU4Health programme, will help EU Member States retain nurses within their healthcare systems and make the nursing profession more attractive to potential recruits.

This initiative will be implemented across all 27 EU countries, with a particular emphasis on nations facing severe staffing shortages. The goal is to relieve pressure on healthcare systems by ensuring there are enough nurses to meet growing patient demands, ultimately enhancing the quality of care provided.

Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, emphasized the critical role of nurses in healthcare, stating, “Nurses are key to our health systems, yet many countries are struggling to retain or attract the numbers needed to meet the growing and evolving needs of their populations. This new initiative is a sign of our joint commitment to address that and to ensure that patients get the high-quality, professional care when and where they need it.”

The 36-month programme will be carried out in collaboration with national governments, nurses' organizations, and social partners, tailoring solutions to the unique needs of each country. Activities will focus on improving recruitment and retention strategies, providing better support for new nurses through mentorship, ensuring safe staffing levels, and integrating digital health solutions to improve healthcare delivery.

The nursing shortage is part of a broader crisis affecting healthcare systems across the WHO European Region. According to WHO/Europe’s report Health and Care Workforce in Europe: Time to Act, many countries face critical shortfalls in healthcare workers, including nurses, and are struggling to meet growing patient demands. WHO/Europe's "Framework for Action on the Health and Care Workforce in the WHO European Region 2023–2030" calls for urgent investment in the health workforce to address these challenges and build more sustainable healthcare systems.

Through this new initiative, WHO and the European Commission aim to strengthen the nursing profession and improve healthcare for millions of EU citizens. By addressing the workforce crisis head-on, they hope to ensure a future where healthcare systems are better equipped to meet the needs of an aging population and provide high-quality care for all.