The European Union has a shortage of 1.2 million healthcare workers.

Omissions

• The 1.2 million figure is a 2022 estimate (published/restated by the EPRS in January 2025) and is therefore more than two years old at the time of the session (2026-09-17); the number is described as continuing to rise, so it may understate the current gap.
• The original WHO figure of a 1.2 million shortfall refers to the WHO European Region, whereas the EPRS attributes the same figure to the EU specifically — a geographic scope nuance.
• The claim uses the broad term 'healthcare workers' whereas the underlying estimate covers doctors, nurses and midwives.

Sources

• PrimaryWHO Regional Office for Europe — 'Mental Health of Nurses and Doctors survey'The findings indicated a high prevalence of mental health conditions and unsafe working conditions – including violence, extended working hours ...
• SecondaryEuropean Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) — 'Healthcare in the EU: shortages'estimates a shortage of 1.2 million doctors, nurses and midwives in the EU as of 2022. This deficit, amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic, is ...
• SecondaryEU Perspectives — 'Europe is short of a million health workers. Parliament asks...'The World Health Organization (WHO) counted a shortfall of 1.2 million health workers in 2022 in its European region. It expects a gap of ...
• SecondaryEuropean Public Service Union (EPSU) — 'WHO report exposes mental health crisis among Europe's healthcare workers'Workforce shortages are now estimated at 1.2 million doctors, nurses and midwives across the EU - and the number continues to rise.
• SecondaryThe BMJ — 'WHO: Third of European doctors and nurses have experienced depression or anxiety'One in three European doctors and nurses have experienced depression or anxiety in the past two weeks and more than one in 10 have had suicidal ...