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The BeWell project moves forward on its green and digital skills strategy
15 December 2022
The BeWell project has made further progress on its health workforce’s skills strategy. Coordinated by EHMA as our flagship initiative on health workforce, the project aims to develop a green and digital skills strategy for the health ecosystem that will be implemented at local, regional, national, and ultimately at the European level through the Pact for Skills. BeWell hit some major accomplishments by launching the first health ecosystem’s large-scale partnership on skills gaps and emerging occupations that gathered widespread support from the European Commission and multiple health stakeholders. Furthermore, the project submitted a position paper in support of the European Year of Skills 2023.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated health challenges and pressures on health systems, but it also provided an opportunity for European countries to accelerate their digital and green transitions. The BeWell project – that EHMA leads as Consortium Leader – contributes to the digital and green transitions in the healthcare sector by:
- Understanding the digital and green skill needs of the health workforce.
- Establishing the first skill strategy for the health ecosystem.
- Launching a large-scale partnership under the Pact for Skills initiative.
- Developing and implementing pilot training programmes on digital and green skills and for emerging occupations.
In December 2022 the project took major steps towards the development of its Skills Strategy and the achievements of its objectives.
Launching a large-scale partnership for the health ecosystem
On 13 December, BeWell formally launched the first health ecosystem’s large-scale partnership on skills gaps and emerging occupations during a dedicated event.
This initiative has gathered widespread support from the European Commission. Ms Sandra Gallina, Director-General at DG SANTE – present at the event – invited all partners to create further synergies. Words of appreciation also came from Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Mr Nicolas Schmit and Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Ms Stella Kyriakides in the press release shared by the European Commission the following day.
During the launch event, Mr Michele Calabro’, Director at EUREGHA and partner in the BeWell project, presented the partnership manifesto; while the following panel discussion described the relevance of this partnership for the various sectors within the health ecosystem. In conclusion of the event, our Executive Director, Mr George Valiotis invited all interested parties to join the movement so that all voices, views and perspectives from health stakeholders can be taken into account when developing the project skills strategy.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE EVENTSUPPORTING THE EUROPEAN YEAR OF SKILLS 2023
The BeWell consortium also submitted a position paper in support of the European Commission’s initiative on the European Year of Skills 2023 and providing adequate skills to the European workforce.
The BeWell stance addresses some of the major trends that significantly impact the demand for health services and determine the skill needs of health professionals. Demographic changes and the rising prevalence of chronic conditions are some of the trends that have created pressures on health systems and increased the demand to reconsider the most optimal skill-mix in the health workforce. This increasing demand for health services has not yet been counterbalanced by a similar increase in health professionals. Whilst digital technologies provide new opportunities to the healthcare workforce, training on digital technologies is often offered only as an optional course. Healthcare professionals also report that they do not have enough up-skilling opportunities in order to make full use of the available digital technologies.
READ THE POSITION PAPERThis project is co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union under Grant Agreement number 101056563. This page only reflects the author’s views and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or EACEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
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