Healthcare is one of Europe’s largest and most strategic economic ecosystems. It employs millions of professionals, drives investment and innovation, supports regional development and strengthens Europe’s industrial and technological capabilities. Hospitals, life sciences companies, medical technology manufacturers, digital health innovators and research institutions form a complex ecosystem that contributes significantly to European growth and prosperity.
The debate about Europe’s future competitiveness cannot exclude healthcare. On the contrary, healthcare should be recognised as one of the foundations upon which Europe’s economic strength, social cohesion and strategic resilience depend.
This discussion is particularly relevant today because across Europe, healthcare systems are facing unprecedented pressures. Demographic ageing, increasing demand for care, workforce shortages, rising costs and the need for large-scale investment in infrastructure and digital transformation are testing the resilience of health systems in every Member State.
Meeting these challenges will require more than additional public funding alone. It will require policies that encourage innovation, facilitate investment, support workforce development and mobilise all available healthcare resources effectively.
Private clinics and hospitals have an important role to play in this effort. Across Europe, private providers invest heavily in healthcare infrastructure, medical technologies, digital solutions, professional training and organisational innovation. They contribute to expanding capacity, improving access to care (delivering hospital care, surgery, mental health services, rehabilitation, long-term care and other essential healthcare activities) and enhancing the resilience of healthcare systems. Their investments generate employment, stimulate local economies and help modernise healthcare delivery.
Yet important questions are emerging across Europe regarding the conditions necessary to sustain long-term investment in healthcare. These discussions concern financing models, workforce availability, regulatory frameworks and the ability of healthcare providers to contribute fully to public healthcare objectives.
From the perspective of competitiveness, the healthcare sector faces challenges that are increasingly similar to those encountered by other strategic industries. That’s why we need policy frameworks that are predictable, transparent and non-discriminatory. It requires recognition that all qualified healthcare providers can contribute to public-interest healthcare objectives. And it requires a commitment to ensuring that healthcare ecosystems are organised in ways that maximise efficiency, resilience and patient access.
I note that, unfortunately, the European Commission documents are far from adopting this perspective, and even the recent documents of the 2026 European Semester Spring Package seem to view health solely from the perspective of service provision, focusing on the challenges faced by public providers rather than the health system as a whole. Access to and sustainability of health systems do not depend on hospital ownership!
Regarding our UEHP activities, I would like to highlight that we had excellent Board and Council meetings in Brussels. We are fully aligned on what is needed to improve the operating conditions of private hospitals and thus strengthen healthcare systems, and we will continue initiatives in this direction. The presentation of the Dutch healthcare system was also a very important contribution to our reflections.
On the other hand, the 5th edition of the European Private Hospital Awards is underway. It will be an opportunity to highlight good practices and examples of excellence from private hospitals and clinics in various European countries. There are 9 categories in the competition, and I hope there will be broad participation from everyone. Submit applications and showcase your projects and the work of your teams. I am sure we will have much to celebrate on November 10th in Prague.
Oscar Gaspar, President of UEHP
Read the full June 2026 newsletter HERE
