Organization of health care services

In July 2026, the Dutch government allocated €102.5 million to strengthen the national MedTech ecosystem. The initiative responds to the MedTech Growth Plan and aims to address healthcare workforce shortages and rising demand for care by supporting innovation, implementation, and closer cooperation among industry, healthcare providers, and research institutions.

In July 2026, an independent review of UK pathology services was published. It covers seven main areas: international experience, the devolved UK nations, quality, workforce, patient access, digital and diagnostic infrastructure, and value and funding. Among the six system-wide priorities, the report recommends aligning digital, workforce, and funding reforms into a single implementation program, moving towards activity-aligned funding through a price-per-test tariff model.

On July 10, 2026, the German Bundestag passed the Statutory Health Insurance (SHI) Contribution Rate Stabilization Act (GKV-Beitragssatzstabilisierungsgesetz). During the parliamentary process, additional fiscal measures were incorporated into the legislation after it was approved by the Federal Cabinet to close the funding gap that had widened in the interim.

On July 9, 2026, the UK Government published its first annual progress report on the Life Sciences Sector Plan, launched in July 2025. The report outlines progress and next steps across actions intended to strengthen research and development, attract investment, and accelerate health innovation and NHS reform. The key developments include the launch of the National HealthTech Access Programme, and the introduction of Value Based Procurement guidance.

On June 30, 2026, an independent investigation into maternity and neonatal services in England was published. In response, NHS England introduced a 10-Point Plan setting out urgent actions, while the government announced the appointment of the UK’s first Maternity and Neonatal Commissioner. A comprehensive national action plan, outlining priority measures and long-term reforms, is expected to be published in December 2026.

Denmark is in the process of establishing a new national organization, Digital Health Denmark, as part of a healthcare reform to strengthen digital development and coherence across the health sector. The organization will merge the Danish Health Data Authority, sundhed.dk, MedCom, and the National Genome Center. A preparatory phase is ongoing in 2026, with full establishment planned for January 1, 2027.

On June 12, 2026, the Bundestag held its first reading of the planned financial reform of the statutory health insurance system (GKV). The German Federal Government has proposed a comprehensive reform package to address the severe financial deficit in the GKV.

On May 14, 2026, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) introduced a Health Bill (“the bill”) to Parliament, initiating a staged approval process toward Royal Assent. The bill legislates for several measures, including abolishing NHS England, empowering integrated care boards (ICBs) as strategic commissioners, and reforming the NHS foundation trust model.

On March 27, 2026, the Federal Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, Health, Care, and Consumer Protection (BMASGPK) announced the signing of the regulation enabling the launch of the Health Reform Fund. By 2030, the Fund is expected to allocate between €497.5 million and €580 million annually, totaling more than €2.6 billion in investments to support the continued development of the healthcare system over the next five years.

On 2 March 2026, NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) announced the next phase in the transfer of national commissioning functions, subject to parliamentary approval. From April 2027, integrated care boards (ICBs) will assume responsibility for a broader set of services, including selected specialised services (in addition to those already delegated), most components of screening programs, and public health functions. Following the expected abolition of NHS England in 2027, DHSC will take on the remaining national commissioning responsibilities, including highly specialised services and High Cost devices, as well as maintaining national service specifications and clinical commissioning policies.

In January 2026, the Belgian Health Care Knowledge Centre (KCE) published one Health Technology Assessment report on blood-based biomarkers in mild traumatic brain injury and two Health Service Research (HSR) reports addressing chronic pain management and the shift from inpatient to day and ambulatory care.

In January 2026, the Handbook on Health Councils was released in Denmark. The handbook explains the role, structure, responsibilities, and financing of the new Health Councils introduced as part of the ongoing Health Reform. A transitional structure of 17 preparatory Health Councils will be in place in 2026 to support the establishment of the permanent councils starting in 2027.