ESNO (European Specialist Nurses Organisation) shared a post on LinkedIn:
“We thank Baroness Françoise Meunier for her inspiring words and leadership. At the European Health Workforce and Care Strategy Forum on 4th November in Brussels, we had the honour to welcome Françoise Meunier, member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of Cancer Patients Europe – CPE Europe, Belgian oncologist, and Founder of the European Initiative on Ending Discrimination Against Cancer Survivors.
Speaking on behalf of Cancer Patients Europe, Francoise Meunier she opened with a powerful message that deeply resonated across all professional and institutional representatives, from the European Commission and WHO Europe to hospitals, care homes, and nursing organisations.
She reminded us that Europe’s current health workforce crisis is ‘not only a professional challenge, it is a patient challenge’. When healthcare professionals face exhaustion, pressure, or lack of recognition, patients are the first to feel it – through longer waiting times, reduced access, and the loss of that essential human connection that defines quality care.
‘Behind every policy are people: professionals who need recognition, and patients whose lives depend on them.’
She highlighted how investing in health workforce is not a cost but an investment in Europe’s most valuable resource, its people. She emphasised that supporting nurses, doctors, and carers means protecting the quality and humanity of care, ensuring they are valued, supported, and retained within resilient systems.
In particular, she pointed to cancer care as an example where shortages and fragmentation can directly affect early detection, treatment, and survivorship. Addressing these gaps requires coordinated action on training, retention, and implementation of key European frameworks such as the WHO–EU Commission Nurse Action Plan and the Bucharest Declaration.
On behalf of Cancer Patients Europe, she expressed gratitude to the organisers, the ESNO, European Specialist Nurses Organisation, together with European Union of Private Hospitals (UEHP) and European Confederation Of Care Homes Organizations (ECHO), the WHO European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies and the European Economic and Social Committee for ensuring that the patient voice is represented in this vital policy dialogue.
Her words captured the essence of what this Forum stood for: collaboration between professionals and patients, grounded in mutual respect, recognition, and shared purpose.
We extend our warmest thanks to Françoise Meunier and Cancer Patients Europe for their unwavering commitment to advancing patient-centred, equitable, and sustainable health systems across Europe.
Together, we can build a fairer, healthier, and more human Europe – for professionals and patients alike.”
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