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Data set notes

European database on human and technical resources for health

Indicators: 125

Updated: 22 November 2023

Contact: Data and Digital Health Unit (DDH)

HlthRes-DB provides a wide range of statistics on human and technical resources for health and offers data on non-monetary health care resources collected through the joint work of the Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and WHO/Europe

Human resources indicators: Indicators include the number and density of a wide range of health personnel (such as physicians, nurses, midwives, dentists, pharmacists and health care assistants), according to three different concepts (those practising, professionally active and licensed to practice). Information on employment in hospitals and numbers of medical and other graduates is also available. It is currently available in English and Russian.

Technical resources data: Data include the number and density of hospitals and hospital beds, stratified by ownership of facility (public, non-profit-making private and for-profit private), in addition to the number of beds for long-term care.

HlthRes-DB also contains indicators on the availability of the following medical equipment: computed tomography (CT) scanners, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) units, positron emission tomography (PET) scanners, gamma cameras, digital subtraction angiography units, mammographs, radiation therapy equipment and lithotriptors.

Information before 2011 is not verified.

The 2022 Revision of UN World Population Prospects was used for estimates.

Indicator notes

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Practising nurses, total number Indicator code: nurs.pract Practising nurses provide services directly to patients. Inclusion - Professional nurses (see definition below) - Associate professional nurses (see definition below) - Foreign nurses licensed to practice and actively practising in the country Exclusion - Students who have not yet graduated - Nursing aids/assistants and personal care workers who do not have any recognised qualification/certification in nursing - Midwives (unless they work most of the time as nurses) - Nurses working in administration, management, research and in other posts that exclude direct contact with patients - Unemployed nurses and retired nurses no longer practising - Nurses working abroad Professional nurses assume responsibility for the planning and management of the care of patients, including the supervision of other health care workers, working autonomously or in teams with medical doctors and others in the practical application of preventive and curative measures. Inclusion - Clinical nurse - District nurse - Nurse anaesthetist - Nurse educator - Nurse practitioner - Public health nurse - Specialist nurse Exclusion - Midwife (unless they work most of the time as nurses) - Paramedical practitioner - University lecturer - Vocational education teacher - Associate professional nurse - Associate professional midwife - Nursing aide Associate professional nurses generally work under the supervision of, and in support of implementation of health care, treatment and referrals plans established by medical, nursing and other health professionals. Inclusion - Assistant nurse - Enrolled nurse - Practical nurse Exclusion - Professional nurse - Clinical nurse consultant - Specialist nurse - Midwife (unless they work most of the time as nurses) - Associate professional midwife - Nursing aide - Medical assistant Note: The number should be at the end of the calendar year.

Country/Area notes

No information

Total practising nurses, head count