ICM contributes to European Parliament health workforce report — prioritising midwives and women’s health 

In July, members of the ICM team took part in a virtual meeting with Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Tilly Metz to discuss Europe’s health workforce. Building on that exchange, ICM has submitted written comments on the European Parliament’s draft report for a European Union (EU) Health Workforce Crisis Plan. Our objective is clear: ensure that midwives are explicitly included throughout and that women’s health is prioritised. We welcome the overall direction and look forward to the publication of the final report. 

The draft recognises that workforce shortages are one of the most pressing challenges facing health systems across the EU. It calls for a coordinated approach that respects Member States’ competencies while promoting better data, skills development, and innovation. It also places emphasis on working conditions, mental health and gender equality for a workforce that is predominantly female — including fair pay, career progression, protection from violence and harassment, family‑friendly arrangements, and stronger occupational health and safety measures with access to psychological support for health workers, including midwives. 

Draft report: current measures 

In its current form, the draft report proposes targeted steps to reduce inequalities in access to care, including incentives to attract health professionals to underserved regions and the responsible use of telehealth to complement in‑person services. It also calls for long‑term, sustainable financing and forward‑looking workforce planning in cooperation with the OECD and WHO. 

On workforce numbers, the draft invites the European Commission to outline a plan to increase the health and care workforce by at least one million professionals within seven years, supported by access to EU funds for education, training and scholarships. ICM notes that investment in midwives is among the most effective ways to expand access to respectful, evidence‑based sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn and adolescent health (SRMNAH) care for women and gender diverse people, strengthen primary and community services, and improve outcomes for women and newborns. 

Our submission: key points 

In our submission, we proposed the following measures for inclusion: 

1. Name midwives consistently: Wherever the report lists health professions, midwives should be explicitly mentioned to prevent gaps in implementation. 
2. Strengthen education and scope: Recognition and qualification frameworks should reflect international midwifery standards and enable midwives to work to their full scope of practice, including safe task‑sharing where appropriate. This includes improved implementation — and a possible update — of the Professional Qualifications Directive to strengthen mutual recognition and alignment with international standards. 
3. Support retention and leadership: Policies should create clear pathways into advanced practice and leadership for midwives, with fair pay and conditions, safe‑staffing principles, and robust occupational health supports to improve retention and quality of care. 

These points reflect ICM’s comments and corrections; their inclusion remains subject to the final text agreed by the European Parliament. 

Next steps 

ICM is grateful for the constructive engagement with Members of the European Parliament and their teams throughout this process. We will continue to provide evidence and practical examples from our global network to help shape measures that grow, support and sustain the midwifery workforce across Europe. As the Parliament advances this important file, we look forward to the final report and to concrete follow‑up actions that place midwives — and women’s health — at the centre of well‑prepared, equitable health systems.