She explained that technologies such as robotics can improve operating room efficiency, optimize resource allocation, and support healthcare professionals—critical advantages at a time of workforce shortages across Europe. Yet despite growing recognition of these benefits, current funding systems often lack the flexibility needed to support adoption at scale or generate the evidence required to accelerate reimbursement decisions.

The discussion also touched on the challenge of timing. By the time evidence is generated and reviewed, technologies have often already evolved—making traditional assessment cycles increasingly difficult to align with innovation timelines.

Moving beyond price toward broader value

From the cardiovascular perspective, Aline Topouchian emphasized that minimally invasive technologies often create value far beyond the procedure itself, reducing hospital stays, accelerating recovery, and supporting more efficient care delivery.

She argued that procurement and reimbursement systems must evolve to better recognize this broader impact:

The panel discussed several examples of innovative funding and access models already emerging across Europe, including coverage with evidence generation programs in Germany and innovation-focused reimbursement pathways in France. Temporary reimbursement models for digital health technologies were also highlighted as examples of more adaptive approaches that support innovation while evidence continues to mature.

At the same time, Aline stressed that these remain fragmented examples rather than the norm across Europe. Innovation in products must be matched by innovation in healthcare systems themselves—including reimbursement, procurement, and HTA processes.

Outcomes-based care could transform access

Andrea Keady brought a wound care perspective to the discussion, arguing that healthcare systems continue to reward activity rather than outcomes:

She explained that today’s reimbursement models often incentivize repeated interventions rather than faster healing, even when more effective approaches could improve patient outcomes while reducing system costs.

Andrea shared several powerful examples of local best practice already demonstrating what better-aligned pathways can achieve:

• In the UK, the Manchester Amputation Reduction Strategy (MARS) brought together vascular surgeons, diabetes specialists, wound care teams, and broader multidisciplinary stakeholders to reduce avoidable amputations by nearly half within five years. The model has expanded across Manchester, but scaling nationally remains difficult.
• In Spain, a telemedicine wound care program reduced time to wound closure by more than a month and cut hospital referrals by over 50%, generating savings of nearly €2,000 per patient.
• In Finland, data showed that when differential diagnosis was implemented within four weeks, over 55% of wounds healed within three months. Where diagnosis was delayed beyond 12 weeks, healing rates dropped to zero.

For Andrea, these examples demonstrate that the evidence and solutions already exist.

The challenge is creating pathways that allow them to scale consistently across health systems, rather than remaining isolated pockets of success driven by individual clinical champions.

Real-world evidence and collaboration are essential

Across all sectors, the panel agreed that real-world evidence (RWE) will play an increasingly important role in demonstrating not only clinical benefit, but also operational efficiency, workforce impact, and long-term healthcare sustainability.

The session also highlighted the need for stronger collaboration between manufacturers, providers, policymakers, HTA bodies, and clinical societies. No single stakeholder can solve these challenges alone, and progress will require shared responsibility across the healthcare ecosystem.

As moderator Zhen Nie noted during the discussion, many best practices already exist across Europe. The next challenge is creating more predictable, flexible, and value-oriented pathways that allow innovation to scale more effectively and reach patients faster.

Final takeaway

While MedTech sectors face different funding and access challenges, the discussion highlighted a common underlying issue: healthcare systems are evolving more slowly than innovation itself.

The panel reinforced the need for more flexible, value-based pathways that better recognize operational efficiency, workforce impact, and long-term system sustainability—not just traditional clinical endpoints or upfront cost.

The good news is that many solutions are already visible across Europe. The challenge now is scaling them more consistently to ensure innovative technologies can move beyond CE marking and deliver meaningful value to patients and healthcare systems alike.