Europe must take urgent action to tackle a growing shortage of health care staff or risk seeing systems collapse, the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) warned on Friday during a demonstration in Brussels.
Around 500 health care workers from France, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, Croatia and Romania marched on Friday morning from Place Madou to the Schuman roundabout.
The marchers denounced, in particular, what they see as the “commercialisation” of the sector and an ever-increasing workload.
“Applause is not enough,” read one banner.
The Federation deplored the fact that salaries are at half mast, working hours have increased, staffing levels are low and stress levels have remained unchanged since the Coronavirus pandemic.
It called for measures to make healthcare jobs more attractive.
“Europe cannot wait for the system to collapse. Politicians must free up the necessary resources and stop making savings on the back of health care," EPSU recommended.
"It is time to show that lessons have been learned from the health crisis and to listen to the workers.”
