Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1515420
12 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 4 FEBRUARY 2024 NEWS MATTHEW VELLA mvella@mediatoday.com.mt IN a season of European poli- tics where Maltese candidates for Brussels are attempting to instrumentalise the growing la- bour influx of non-EU nationals, the Maltese government is now embarking on a search for young healthcare workers to plug shortages in the NHS. Over 10,500 healthcare pro- fessionals are employed by the Maltese State, where a large cohort of Asian nursing staff is becoming increasingly evident following the COVID-19 pan- demic. But according to the health ministry, still not enough healthcare professionals are available to cater for Malta's population of 500,000. "The national workforce with- in some healthcare professions is not sufficient to meet the current and anticipated future demand for healthcare servic- es," the ministry for health said in a call for a study that can dis- cover ways of attracting more students in Malta to the health disciplines and related courses and careers. One of the objectives of the Maltese NHS Health Work- force Strategy (2022) is to im- prove integration of the health- care and education sectors, by addressing the gaps between the supply and demand for fu- ture jobs and strengthen health careers and patient centred care. The health ministry, working with both the EU and the WHO, now wants evidence-based re- search to identify factors that impact enrolment and the pur- suit of these careers. The study will explore youths' attitudes and perceptions to- wards healthcare education programmes and careers re- lated to healthcare, as well as identify the factors that en- courage or discourage them from pursuing healthcare ca- reers. "The study's findings can in- form the development of pol- icies and programs aimed at encouraging more youths to pursue healthcare careers and addressing any barriers or mis- conceptions that may exist. Ultimately, it can contribute to better workforce planning in the healthcare sector, ensuring an adequate supply of skilled professionals to meet the healthcare needs of the popu- lation in Malta," the ministry said in a call for tenders. The study, which will include qualitative interviews as well as surveys of Malta's young pop- ulation, will determine ways to attract more students to the health disciplines, particularly in areas where shortages are being experienced. Other observations will be gleaned from how age, gender, socioeconomic background, and cultural factors influence the choice of a healthcare ca- reer among youths; the impact of educational institutions and career guidance practitioners; and how youths perceive the healthcare industry, its chal- lenges, opportunities, and the role it plays in society. It will also analyse which are the most significant factors de- motivating youths from choos- ing healthcare careers, how to recruit and retain those who would be attracting to such ca- reers, in a bid to forecast future workforce needs and design relevant training programmes. Not enough healthcare graduates, ministry launches study in bid to attract students Health ministry wants experts to understand what is keeping young Maltese away from a career in healthcare as shortage of professionals threatens future capacity