A joint report by the European Commission and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has unveiled a significant shortfall in the health workforce across the

European Union. In 2022, the EU averaged 4.2 doctors per 1,000 residents, with Belgium slightly below that figure at 3.6 doctors per 1,000 inhabitants.

The Health at a Glance report estimates a collective deficit of around 1.2 million doctors, nurses, and midwives across EU member states in 2022. This shortage is exacerbated by an aging population and an increasingly elderly healthcare workforce, creating challenges in meeting the growing demand for medical services.

"More than one-third of doctors and a quarter of nurses in the EU are aged over 55 and are likely to retire in the coming years," the report highlights. In Belgium, the situation is even more pronounced, with 42% of doctors aged 55 or older in 2022, surpassing the EU average of 35%.

The findings underline the urgent need for strategies to address workforce sustainability, including investments in education, recruitment, and retention of healthcare professionals across Europe.