Health security needs a European health and care workforce strategy, and it needs it now

Europe is currently facing novel security threats in many different areas, reinforcing the need for a well prepared and protected health and care workforce to ensure health system resilience and service provision for the population under conditions of a poly-crisis. However, the health and care workforce is weakened by persisting shortages, competency gaps and mismatches, and poor working and mental health conditions. Health and care workers are not prepared for yet another crisis and a systematic strategy is lacking. This policy commentary argues for health and care workforce preparedness and protection as a structural pillar and integral part of an emerging EU health and security landscape, calling for a coherent European Union strategy and highlighting capacities for implementation and co-benefits for democratic societies and economies. Key policy recommendations include: developing a coordinated EU strategy that is capable to protect, prepare and retain health and care workers; closing the competencies gaps to align preparedness for military aggression, cyberattacks, climate change, and new infectious diseases; investing in research and data spaces to strengthen evidence-based information and policy; creating governance structures and building on existing EU programs and budgets to freeing resources for the health and care workforce.