Building up European care capital: sustainable investments, not burdensome costs
EuroHealthNet and co-signatories of this Joint Statement call for urgent measures to address underinvestment and staff shortages in long-term care. The first UN International Day of Care and Support is a welcome initiative that marks a positive development in the recognition of the vital importance of care and of those who provide it in our societies. We hope that the welcome momentum generated by the UN International Day of Care and Support will catalyse and inspire substantive actions across the European Union.
We call on all stakeholders to invest in the transition to community-based, person-centred high-quality, affordable and accessible long-term care systems. Namely, on Member States to present appropriately funded measures by June 2024 to improve long-term care systems. We urge the European Commission to create a monitoring framework and a Long-Term Care Platform. The Council of the European Union should adopt conclusions on holistic care models. The EU parliament should support financial policies and monitor the European Care Strategy.