Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union

The Member States of the European Union are increasingly finding themselves faced with similar challenges regarding the availability of competent health professionals. National measures are often insufficient to deal with the changing and growing demand. This Ministerial Conference wishes to bring together the Member States to discuss an effective policy for the future with regard to innovation and cooperation.
In the course of the 2-day Ministerial Conference on the health professionals of tomorrow in Europe, the following topics will be tackled :

- Assessment of health professionals in the future: what are the assessment models for the planning of future requirements?
- Skill-mix and redistribution of tasks:
The skills profiles of the various groups of health workers must be reviewed against the background of growing deficits and ever increasing quality requirements. Life long learning and permanent recycling have become crucial in keeping skills and current knowledge.
- Improving working conditions: How can we create better working conditions to attract health professionals?
- Improving quality, safety and efficiency. Health professionals play an important role in improving the quality of public health. How can we provide them with better quality, safety and efficiency?

The four topics will be considered two by two in parallel sessions.

This conference wishes to promote innovation in and collaboration between the Member States.

Furthermore, two major debates will be held:
- a debate between the parties concerned ‘How to take into account the professional requirements of motivated and competent health professionals’.
- a Ministerial debate on ‘The possibilities of innovation and collaboration for an effective policy for health professionals’.