The shortage of staff, which affects the entire health care system, will intensify, especially in nursing. A study calculates that there will be a shortage of millions of skilled workers in the future.
According to an analysis by management consultancy PwC, the shortage of personnel in the German healthcare system will drastically worsen in the next few years.
By 2035, almost 1.8 million skilled workers could be missing, according to the paper published on Friday. Accordingly, care for the sick and the elderly is particularly affected; in both areas, more than a third of the staff actually required could be missing. But according to PwC, there will also be a large shortage of doctors unless working conditions in the healthcare sector improve.
Bad image of the nursing professions is problematic
The study is subtitled: “When care itself becomes a need for care.” If the prediction were to come true, the existing health care workforce shortage would multiply in a little over a decade. “Bottlenecks are to be expected even earlier in some areas of the German healthcare system, such as nursing, obstetrics and the rescue service,” the authors write. PwC puts the current vacancy rate in healthcare at 6.8 percent.
According to the study, one of the causes is a poor image of the profession, especially in nursing. In addition, there is demographic change and a high level of dissatisfaction with the job – not only in nursing, but also among medical professionals. The result is a trend towards migrating to less stressful jobs.
“From our point of view, it’s more like five past than five to twelve,” said Michael Burkhart, head of the healthcare sector. The PwC consultants advocate better pay, especially in nursing care. In her opinion, the increased use of digital technologies could also help to make work in the healthcare system easier.
Source: Stern
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
