Report from the EPF Congress 2025
“Shaping the future of healthcare –
Preparedness for health systems’ resilience”
Brussels, 26–27 November 2025

Abstract

The EPF Congress 2025 brought together patient leaders, policymakers, clinicians and industry to assess Europe’s readiness for future health crises and to explore how healthcare systems can become more resilient, equitable and patient-centred. The first day highlighted major ongoing challenges, including workforce shortages, fragmented clinical research systems, supply chain vulnerabilities, misinformation, and persistent inequalities in access to care. Lessons from COVID-19 underscored the need for trust, cross-border cooperation, and the meaningful inclusion of patients in research and decision making.

The second day shifted toward solutions, focusing on the transformative potential of digital health, artificial intelligence, and forthcoming EU health policy initiatives such as the Biotech Act and new disease-specific plans. Speakers stressed that innovation must be trustworthy, accessible and patient-driven. The congress concluded with a call for stronger collaboration across sectors and with a clear message: resilient health systems can only be achieved when patients are recognised as essential partners in shaping the future of healthcare.

Full report

The EPF Congress 2025 brought together patient leaders, health professionals, policymakers, researchers and industry representatives for two days of discussion on how Europe can prepare for the next health crisis while strengthening its health systems more broadly. Much of the congress centred on the lessons learned from COVID-19 and the systemic weaknesses the pandemic exposed. The second day, in contrast, focused on opportunities, innovation and emerging solutions that could redefine the future of European healthcare.

The first day highlighted the many challenges that remain. Speakers described 2025 as a difficult year for healthcare in Europe, marked by widening inequalities in access to care and substantial financial strain. Patient advocate Andreas Christodoulou reminded participants that patients must not be seen as a cost component, but as partners whose needs should guide all decisions. Several panelists reflected on the pandemic’s impact five years on. While digital skills, communication channels and cross-border cooperation have improved, Europe continues to face major shortages of healthcare professionals and persistent vulnerabilities in supply chains, particularly for medicines and raw materials. There was broad agreement that although Europe is more prepared than in 2020, this preparedness is far from complete, and maintaining resilience requires continuous effort rather than one-time reforms.

Trust emerged as a recurring theme. The pandemic revealed a deep erosion of public trust, amplified by misinformation on social media. Approximately 200 000 deaths in the US were attributed to misinformation, illustrating the scale of the problem. Panelists stressed that trust must be rebuilt through transparent communication, involvement of patients at every stage of decision making, and better coordination between national and EU institutions. Patient organisations noted that during the early phase of the pandemic they were often excluded from clinical research design and emergency planning, despite representing the populations most affected. This experience reinforced the importance of embedding patient perspectives into all preparedness strategies going forward, not as an afterthought but as a structural requirement.

Another central issue was the fragmentation of Europe’s clinical research landscape. Clinicians reported that setting up clinical trials during the pandemic was extremely difficult due to regulatory barriers, lack of fast-track mechanisms, limited access to diagnostic tools and insufficient data sharing. The EU has since invested in clinical research networks to strengthen infrastructure, but speakers emphasised that robust, connected systems are essential if Europe is to respond effectively to the next crisis. Workforce shortages were described as the greatest immediate threat to system resilience, and several participants stressed the need for long-term investment in training, capacity building and cross-border mobility of health professionals.

The workshop on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) underscored the severity of a crisis already unfolding. WHO representatives presented new AMR preparedness tools and highlighted that AMR contributes to around 20% of cancer-related deaths. Industry and advocacy groups discussed the urgent need for innovative antibiotics, sustainable financial incentives for their development, and greater involvement of patients in awareness-building and clinical research. AMR was described as potentially capable of destabilising modern healthcare if action is not accelerated.

The second day shifted focus toward solutions and opportunities. Discussions on digital health and artificial intelligence revealed both optimism and caution. AI is already widely used in clinical research, and its potential spans everything from supporting overburdened hospitals to enabling care in remote areas. However, speakers emphasised the importance of trustworthy AI, transparent data use, strong cybersecurity and patient autonomy — including the right to decline AI involvement in their care. The digital divide was repeatedly raised, especially for the large proportion of Europeans who may lack the digital skills needed to navigate new technologies. Education and accessibility were presented as essential components of future digital strategies.

A keynote from Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi provided a forward-looking perspective on EU health policy. He outlined plans to accelerate innovation through the Biotech Act, strengthen supply chains, and improve availability of medicines across Europe. Upcoming EU initiatives include a cardiovascular health plan and updated cancer strategies, reflecting the leading causes of mortality in Europe. The Commissioner stressed that innovation must be patient-driven, and that policy reforms must translate into real-world improvements in access, equity and prevention.

Throughout the congress, the role of young patient advocates was recognised as increasingly important. Youth representatives highlighted the need for early involvement in research and policy processes, and the congress concluded with a reminder that meaningful collaboration between generations is essential for shaping future health systems.

In his closing remarks, EPF President Marco Greco encouraged participants to see themselves not only as critics but as contributors to sustainable solutions. The congress made clear that no single actor — patients, industry, clinicians, or policymakers — can succeed alone. Building resilient and equitable European health systems requires a strong and united European Health Union, continued investment, and a culture that places patients at the centre of innovation and policymaking.

Hall Skaara – Project Manager PHA Europe
Egersund, November 28th, 2025