Belgium will need more than 124,000 additional caregivers by 2040 to cope with growing demand in the health care sector, economist Johan Albrecht of Ghent University calculated in a new study reported Tuesday. by De Tijd.
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The results of this study show that Wallonia will need 42,000 additional workers in the healthcare sector by 2040. 74,000 more will be needed in Flanders and 8,200 in Brussels. The workers needed will mainly be medical and paramedical profiles as well as nursing, care and support staff.
“If we don’t find these extra hands, we risk a painful healthcare infarction: a situation where the healthcare system collapses and we can no longer care for everyone,” explained Mr. Albrecht. “If public authorities can no longer provide the necessary care, private initiatives will partly take over. This will drive up prices and risk creating a two-speed society. »
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To avoid such a situation, the study recommends in particular stricter prevention policies in order to stop the progression of chronic diseases, a re-examination of the cost-effectiveness of treatments or even to tackle the link between medical and social problems. , access to quality housing, for example.
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