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European Commission explores digital solutions and global talent strategies to address a growing deficit of doctors
The European Union is stepping up efforts to tackle a deepening shortage of medical professionals, with the European Commission actively considering new measures to accelerate the recognition of professional qualifications across member states. The initiative reflects a growing awareness in Brussels that administrative fragmentation and lengthy procedures are exacerbating an already critical shortage of doctors and healthcare staff throughout the Union.
At the centre of this policy push is Roxana Minzatu, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Skills and Quality Jobs, who has confirmed that the Commission is evaluating concrete actions to modernize the system. These measures, she explained, will likely rely on digitalization to simplify and speed up the recognition of qualifications required for access to regulated professions, including medicine.
The issue is far from new, but it has become increasingly urgent. The European Court of Auditors has previously called for decisive action to ensure that the single market functions effectively in this area. More recently, Members of the European Parliament have reignited the debate, highlighting how bureaucratic inefficiencies are preventing qualified professionals from entering national healthcare systems in a timely manner.
Among the most vocal advocates for reform is Czech MEP Jan Farský, who has pointed out that long recognition procedures, combined with fragmented national systems and delays in accessing postgraduate training, continue to hinder the integration of medical professionals. These structural barriers not only limit workforce mobility but also undermine the EU’s ability to respond quickly and cohesively to healthcare staffing shortages.
The scale of the challenge is significant. According to estimates from the European Parliament’s research services, the EU faced a shortage of approximately 1.2 million doctors, nurses, and midwives as of 2022—a figure that is widely expected to have increased in recent years. Demographic trends are compounding the problem: Europe’s population is aging, and so too is its healthcare workforce. More than one-third of doctors and one-quarter of nurses in the EU are over the age of 55, raising concerns about a wave of retirements that could further strain national health systems.
In this context, the Commission’s planned intervention is both timely and necessary. By focusing on the recognition of qualifications, the EU aims to remove one of the key administrative bottlenecks that restrict labour mobility within the single market. Faster and more transparent procedures would allow qualified doctors to move more easily between member states, helping to distribute medical expertise where it is most needed.
However, the Commission must operate within clear institutional limits. Under the EU Treaties, healthcare policy remains primarily the responsibility of individual member states. This means that decisions related to recruitment, professional integration, and access to specialist training are largely made at the national level. As Minzatu has emphasized, the EU’s role is therefore to facilitate mobility and reduce administrative obstacles, rather than to directly manage healthcare systems.
To complement its internal reforms, the Commission is also exploring policies aimed at attracting and retaining medical professionals from outside the European Union. While these measures are seen as temporary or “stopgap” solutions, they could play a crucial role in alleviating immediate shortages. By opening pathways for qualified non-EU doctors to work in Europe, the EU hopes to stabilize its healthcare workforce while longer-term structural reforms take effect.
These efforts will form part of a broader policy framework known as the “Skills Portability Initiative,” which the Commission is expected to present in the third quarter of 2026. Although specific details have yet to be disclosed, the initiative is anticipated to include targeted actions to improve the cross-border recognition of skills and qualifications, with a particular focus on sectors facing acute labour shortages, such as healthcare.
The use of digital tools is likely to be a key component of the proposed reforms. Streamlining application processes, creating interoperable databases, and reducing paperwork could significantly cut down the time required for credential recognition. This would not only benefit healthcare professionals seeking to practice in other EU countries but also enhance the overall efficiency of the labour market.
Ultimately, the Commission’s approach reflects a pragmatic balance between respecting national competencies and addressing a shared European challenge. By targeting administrative inefficiencies and promoting mobility, the EU is positioning itself to better respond to current and future healthcare needs.
As Europe continues to navigate demographic change and evolving public health demands, the ability to deploy medical talent swiftly and effectively across borders will be essential. The Commission’s initiative represents a crucial step in that direction—one that could strengthen both the resilience and cohesion of Europe’s healthcare systems.
Alessandro Fiorentino