PUB - Publikationen an der Universität Bielefeld

Introduction: The Covid‐19 pandemichas required countries to prepare their health workforce for a rapid increase of patients. This research aims to analyse the planning and health workforce policies in Germany, a country with a largely decentralised workforce governance mechanism. Methods: Systematic search between 18 and 31 May 2020 at federal and 16 states on health workforceaction andplanning (websitesof ministriesof health, public healthauthorities),including pandemicpreparednessplans andpolicies. The search followed World Health Organisation(WHO) Europe's health workforceguidance on Covid‐19. Content analysis was performed,informed by the themes of WHO. Results: The pandemic preparedness plans consisted of no or limited informationon how to expand and prepare the health workforce during pandemics. The 16 states varied considerably regarding implementing strategies to expand health workforce capacities. Only one state adopted apolicyontask‐shifting despite a federal law on task‐shifting during pandemics. Conclusions: Planning on the health workforce, its capacity and skill‐mix during pandemics was limited in the pandemic.