Author: Alexandra Ivanova
After a year of hard work, organisational change and courage, we begin 2026 facing major challenges which, at the same time, become powerful incentives for all of us working in the healthcare field. Collaborating to overcome barriers and solve problems generates additional motivation, allowing us to approach our work with enthusiasm while also fostering greater creativity.
This year, the healthcare sector is preparing to move towards a more efficient, sustainable and people-centred system. Progress will be made in the adoption of medicine evaluation and funding processes that, among other aspects, incorporate social value criteria. Efforts will also focus on effectively integrating the patient voice into decision-making, through the standardisation of processes at European level and specific regulation in Spain. In parallel, work will continue on strengthening regulation and standards for the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare, while promoting measures that support the digital transformation of the National Health System.
Last but not least, it will be essential to promote the development of a clear and robust conceptual framework for environmental impact. Having standardised criteria and validated methodologies to estimate the real environmental impact within the healthcare sector will add significant value to decision-making related to the evaluation and funding of health technologies.
Leadership
To lead the market, one must first lead your team. I believe that a good leader should place people’s wellbeing and a positive working environment at the heart of their approach, and this is precisely my priority. I recently read that a good leader leads from the heart, and I could not agree more. The only way to develop people-centred human resources policies that are capable of retaining talent is to act with humanity and empathy.
Building on these values, Theorema4H will continue to grow and consolidate its leadership in the field of health economics and health technology assessment. We will promote innovative projects that support the different stakeholders within the healthcare ecosystem, with the aim of strengthening cohesion between the public and private sectors and facilitating access to innovation.
Social Value
Spain’s National Health System has successfully addressed significant challenges in terms of universality, organisation, and the evaluation and funding of therapeutic innovations. However, much remains to be done. We need to broaden our perspective in order to understand the context in which social value becomes a key element in decision-making.
Several years ago, the World Health Organization highlighted the importance of considering Social Return on Investment (SROI) analyses to guide health-related decisions and healthcare system investments, thereby contributing to the sustainability goals of the 2030 Agenda. Incorporating a social perspective into the evaluation of medicines would also provide a tool that enables a more strategic view and allows alternatives to be compared at a macro level. From this standpoint, we firmly support continued research and the generation of evidence, methodology and knowledge to enable the effective implementation of social value in decision-making in Spain.
Environment
The European Union has set the objective of achieving climate neutrality by 2050, with an intermediate target of a 55% reduction in emissions by 2030. Around 45% of greenhouse gas emissions in the healthcare sector are linked to models of care delivery. However, there is still a need for a shared conceptual framework and standardised measures that make it possible to assess interventions, prioritise actions and design an Action Plan. With this aim, Theorema4H will promote initiatives that contribute to the development of methodological guidelines and the generation of evidence to support the implementation of effective policies.
Digital Health
We are experiencing a constant and rapid (r)evolution in platforms, applications, virtual assistants and a wide range of digital solutions. Talking about digital health can sometimes feel difficult or abstract, given the breadth of the concept itself. For this reason, it is necessary to clearly define the different sub-areas or thematic blocks and to explore each of them in depth and independently.
At Theorema4H, we will focus our efforts on the evaluation of and access to digital therapeutics. We will review success stories and good practices in Spain and neighbouring countries, develop solutions that facilitate market analysis, and conduct research into the economic, organisational, clinical and social impact of the use of digital therapeutics.
Final Reflection
We are at a pivotal moment for the healthcare sector, marked by significant regulatory changes in the field of health technology assessment, both in Europe and in Spain. Technological advances present major challenges and dilemmas, while also creating a clear need to update regulations, rethink how systems operate and redesign care pathways.
We begin 2026 with great enthusiasm and a strong commitment to continuing to add value!
