Unlocking the Future of Health Care: The Role of Medtech in Value-Based Health Care

A blog by Hans Bax (MedTech Europe), on behalf of the European Alliance for Value in Health.

The Critical Role of MedTech in VBHC

Europe's health care systems are undergoing a major transformation, driven by the shift toward Value-Based Health Care (VBHC)—a patient-centred model that focuses on delivering better outcomes while optimising resources used.

Medical technologies (MedTech) are essential. These can revolutionise care by improving outcomes, reducing costs, and personalising treatment. Medtech innovations, such as remote monitoring tools, wearable devices, digital solutions, and advanced diagnostics are already transforming care delivery. These technologies enable earlier detection, more precise treatment, and real-time monitoring, aligning perfectly with VBHC's goals of improving patient outcomes and reducing unwarranted variation in care.

However, successful implementation of VBHC requires collaboration across all stakeholders—patients and patient advocacy groups, healthcare managers and procurers, healthcare professionals, payers and insurers, governments and regulators, HTA bodies and the Pharmaceutical and MedTech industry —to ensure these innovations are fully integrated into the care pathway.

Priority Actions for Stakeholders

As outlined in the European Alliance for Value in Health's report ‘A Compass for Collaboration: Navigating Stakeholders’ Roles in Transitioning To Value-Based Health Care (VBHC)’, there are several actions which can be taken by each stakeholder group to accelerate the journey to VBHC. Through sessions at the MedTech Europe Forum 2024 and European Health Management (EHMA) Conference 2024, priority actions have emerged from this list. These include:

• Patients and Patient Advocacy Groups:Advocate for the use of patient-relevant outcomes and engage in shared decision-making with healthcare providers
• Healthcare Managers and Procurers: Collaborate with healthcare professionals to redesign care pathways, engage patients in defining value, and ensure resources are directed toward high-value care and prevention
• Government Agencies and Regulators: Establish policies that incentivise integrated, patient-centred care, and promote value-based payment models that reward better outcomes
• Healthcare Professionals: Empower patients through shared decision-making, continuously improve care by tracking patient outcomes, and engage in education opportunities - including digital upskilling and use of eHealth tools for more efficient service delivery
• Payers and Insurers: Support value-based models and encourage coordinated care by offering reimbursement incentives tied to patient outcomes, and incentives for preventative care
• MedTech and Pharmaceutical Industry:Collaborate with all stakeholders to develop technologies that improve patient-relevant outcomes, and work on value-based payment models

For a deeper dive into these priority actions and how each stakeholder can contribute to the VBHC transition, you can access the full report on the Alliance’s website: www.europeanallianceforvalueinhealth.eu

Join us at the 6th European Value Based Procurement conference

To learn more about how medical technologies are shaping the future of VBHC and the critical role of (public) Procurement, join us at the 6th European Value-Based Procurement (VBP) conference on December 2 in Brussels. The event will bring together thought leaders and stakeholders to explore how procurement can drive better patient outcomes and more sustainable healthcare systems.

Find out more here: https://www.vbpcommunity.eu/