Building a Skilled Cancer Workforce: Seizing the Opportunity of the Union of Skills Initiative

The subject was also a topic of debate on 10 March at the European Parliament: “Union of Skills: striving for more and better opportunities to study, train or work in the EU and to bring our talents back home”. 

As Europe faces an unprecedented crisis in the health and cancer workforce, it is imperative that the Union of Skills initiative gives priority attention to this area. Cancer is among the sectors with the largest labour shortages across Europe, with pressing workforce and training needs that will only grow in the future due to rising cancer incidence, population ageing, and rapid developments in technology and clinical practice. The European Cancer Workforce Crisis Report, published in November 2024, underscores this urgent need for strategic action to address these challenges, making it clear that without targeted investment, Europe risks a growing gap in delivering high-quality cancer care. 

The Union of Skills initiative presents a vital opportunity to enhance upskilling and reskilling efforts for the cancer workforce, including: 

• Interdisciplinary collaboration in cancer care; 

• Digital skills training to support the adoption of new technologies in prevention, screening, treatment and quality of life; 

• Advancements in personalised medicine to improve patient care and survivorship rates; 

• Enhanced patient communication and cultural competency to provide equitable care for diverse populations and tackle inequalities; 

• Green skills to ensure sustainability in healthcare settings. 

Several ongoing EU-funded initiatives are already making strides in this area, including INTERACT-EUROPE 100, TRANSiTION, and DigiCanTrain, while BeWell is setting future upskilling priorities. We encourage the Union of Skills to build on these efforts and expand their impact. 

ECO also supports the deployment of the European Skills Intelligence Observatory to improve workforce planning and forecasting in health and cancer care, aligning with the HEROES EU-funded Joint Action. This will ensure a data-driven approach to tackling workforce shortages and training gaps. 

It is essential that the European Skills High-Level Board includes strong representation from the health and cancer community. The European Cancer Organisation, alongside its extensive network of international cancer and health professional societies, stands ready to contribute expertise and collaborate in shaping effective solutions. 

Additionally, the newly dedicated EU-27 Recommendation on Human Capital within the European Semester must reflect the unique training needs and challenges of the health and cancer workforce, ensuring that strategic investments align with the priorities of every sector. 

Finally, the launch of the Skills Portability Initiative offers a fresh opportunity to proactively leverage the Professional Qualifications Directive in harmonising education and training requirements for cancer care professionals across Europe. This should include the development of user-friendly EU guidance for healthcare professional organisations on achieving automatic qualification recognition, enhancing the mobility of expertise in cancer control across EU Member States. 

The European Cancer Organisation looks forward to collaborating with MEPs in shaping policies that equip Europe’s healthcare professionals with the skills needed to meet future challenges in cancer care.