Across Europe, health systems are at a critical turning point. Ageing populations, workforce shortages

and rising care needs are testing the sustainability of our model and deepening inequalities across

Europe. The question is no longer whether change is needed, but how quickly and how efficiently we

act.

In this episode of Break the Bubble, Incisive Health Senior Counsel, Hans Martins sits down with, Jan De

Maeseneer, a leading voice in primary health care, former chair of the DG SANTE Expert Panel on

effective ways of investing in health, he now heads the WHO Collaborating Centre for Family Medicine

and Primary Health Care at Ghent University.

Together they explore what it will take to move from reactive sick care towards more resilient, person-

centred health systems.

They discuss why strengthening primary and community care matters, how prevention and population-

based approaches can ease pressure on health systems, and what can be done to reduce widening

health inequalities. What happens if we fail to act, and what opportunities open up if we get this

transformation right?

The future of Europe’s health systems is at a crossroads. Ageing populations, workforce shortages, rising costs, and the lessons of COVID-19 are putting resilience at the top of the agenda. But how can governments adapt rigid systems, embrace digital transformation, and ensure patients truly benefit from innovation?

In this episode of Break the Bubble, Incisive Health’s Senior Counsel Hans Martens sits down with Francesca Colombo, Head of the Health Division at the OECD. Together they explore what it will take to make Europe’s health systems more resilient, more innovative, and ready for the challenges of tomorrow.

With Denmark taking over the EU Council Presidency on 1st July 2025, a new chapter in European health policy is about to begin.

In this episode of Break the Bubble, Incisive Health’s Senior Counsel Hans Martens is joined by Edward James Smith, Head of the EU Office at the Danish Ministry of the Interior and Health. They talk about Denmark’s priorities for the months ahead — from strengthening Europe’s preparedness to boosting competitiveness — and why these themes matter now more than ever.

What role will Denmark play in driving progress on key health files such as the Critical Medicines Act and the Pharmaceutical Package? And how can this presidency help set the tone for Europe’s health agenda in the years to come?