From the Research
To assess the health workforce in Germany according to the World Health Organization (WHO) framework building blocks, I recommend focusing on key indicators such as physician density, nursing personnel density, healthcare workforce distribution, aging workforce demographics, and international health worker migration, as these provide a comprehensive overview of the country's health workforce capacity, distribution, sustainability, and international dimensions. When evaluating the strengths and limitations of the health workforce in Germany, it is essential to consider the findings from recent studies, such as 1, which highlight the need to attract and retain qualified personnel in the public health service. Some key points to consider include:
- The demand for a well-trained public health workforce is increasing in Germany, driven by the growing importance of health promotion and disease prevention 2.
- The country's health care system is characterized by a clear institutional separation between public health services, ambulatory care, and hospital care, which can hinder the coordination and continuity of patient treatment 3.
- Germany invests a substantial amount of its resources on health care, with 11.4% of its gross domestic product spent on health in 2012, one of the highest levels in the European Union 3.
- The division into statutory and private health insurance remains one of the largest challenges for the German health care system, leading to inequalities 4.
- The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for integrated planning and evaluation of workforce policies in Germany, with limited planning and ad hoc actions implemented during the peak of the pandemic 5. By considering these factors and focusing on the key indicators, a holistic assessment of Germany's health workforce situation can be achieved, capturing both quantitative metrics and qualitative aspects of the workforce challenges.