The workforce shortage in the sector is the “most critical challenge,” according to the European Union of Private Hospitals
Rome, January 30, 2026. The European Union of Private Hospitals (UEHP) signed a joint declaration today calling for greater coordination with public health systems as a way of responding to the growing demand and shortage of human resources affecting the health sector across Europe. At a general assembly marking the organization’s 35th anniversary, representatives from 17 countries and more than 6,000 private hospitals and clinics in Europe gathered in Rome, where the organization was founded in 1991, to reinforce their commitment to “improve and strengthen the resilience of health systems and ensure high-quality healthcare for all European citizens.”
“Private hospitals are an essential pillar of European healthcare systems, representing a significant part of hospital capacity and contributing decisively to access, continuity, and quality of care provided to citizens,” reads the joint statement. In ten points, European representatives of the private healthcare sector also stress that the shortage of professionals “is one of the most critical challenges facing European healthcare systems today,” calling for the need to define “coordinated European and national policies to attract, train, and retain professionals” that recognize “the contribution of all care providers in workforce planning and training.”
Private healthcare providers also demand “fair, transparent, and realistic financing structures that take into account rising operating costs, inflation, labor constraints and ongoing investment in innovation and quality.“ They emphasize that cooperation between public and private systems is ”essential to strengthen the capacity to provide high-quality healthcare, improve health outcomes,” and enable all European citizens to access all areas of healthcare.
According to Oscar Gaspar, president of UEHP, “over the past 35 years, Europe and healthcare have undergone major transformations, and citizens now demand that we find solutions for access to adequate healthcare and innovation. Private clinics and hospitals are essential partners in this endeavor. European private hospitals reaffirm the sector’s commitment to quality, innovation, and responsibility, and invite all partners – policymakers, other providers, professionals and patients – to work together to build a healthier, fairer, and more resilient Europe for future generations.“
Read the full Declaration of Rome.
