Washington, DC., 22 July 2024 (PAHO) – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) actively participated in the panel discussion on Development of the health workforce in European countries, held as part of the Observatory Summer School 2024, from 21-27 July, in Venice, Italy. The event, focusing on "Navigating the healthcare workforce crisis: Innovations and transformation in healthcare," was organized by the European Observatory for Health Systems and Policies, the Veneto Region of Italy, the European Commission, and the World Health Organization (WHO-EURO).
The panel featured official delegates from Romania, Sweden, Tajikistan, and Ukraine, who shared their progress and challenges in strengthening the health workforce across Europe. Representing PAHO, Benjamín Puertas, Unit Chief of Human Resources for Health, presented on the current situation of the health workforce in the Americas, highlighting similarities and reinforcing the global scope of the human resources for health crisis.
Puertas emphasized the shortages and the inequality in distribution of the health professionals in the Region of the Americas and commented on the migration and mobility trends of nurses and physicians between main destination and origin countries to highlight the urgent need in developing strategies and policies to encourage retention measures in the Region and promote the ethical recruitment of health professionals in the Americas.
The Observatory Summer School 2024 serves as a vital platform for policymakers to explore new models of care and leverage medical and technological innovations. These discussions are crucial for developing resilient health systems that can adapt to the demographic, social, and environmental realities of Europe and beyond.
