Category: Medical

A parliamentary panel has recommended that cancer diagnostic packages with standardised pricing should be developed under government-regulated health insurance schemes to enable wider inclusion.

The Committee on Petitions, Rajya Sabha, headed by Narain Dass Gupta in its 163rd report presented on Wednesday, also recommends that the price caps enforced by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) such as the existing 30 per cent trade margin cap on 42 essential anti-cancer drugs should be extended to cover cancer vaccines, immunotherapy, and oral chemotherapy.

“This expansion of regulatory oversight is essential to containing insurer costs and making cancer insurance products more affordable and accessible to a wider population segment,” the Committee said.

It also recommended that more cancer hospitals equipped with advanced medical technology be established through government funding, private sector participation, and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models.

“These facilities should be empanelled within insurer networks to enable the provision of cashless services to patients. The formulation of clearly defined treatment packages will further assist insurers in standardising costs and passing on financial benefits to policyholders,” the panel said.

Additionally, dedicated cancer screening centres must be set up to facilitate early detection, it stated.

The Committee also recommended policy level interventions to integrate cancer screening within major health schemes such as PMJAY, and to include cancer diagnostic tests under CGHS and ECHS. This would enable optimal utilisation of private sector diagnostic infrastructure for public health objectives, the panel said.

The Committee observed that ensuring accessible and affordable cancer care necessitates a comprehensive, multi-stakeholder strategy underpinned by strong governmental policy support.

It underscored the critical need for effective public-private partnerships, the adoption of standardised treatment protocols, and the expansion of insurance coverage to reduce the financial burden on patients.

Additionally, it highlighted the importance of strengthening healthcare infrastructure and enhancing public awareness as integral components of a resilient cancer care ecosystem.

To bridge existing service delivery and affordability gaps, the Committee recommended greater participation from insurance providers, banking institutions, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

Such coordinated engagement will play a pivotal role in creating an inclusive, sustainable, and patient-centric cancer care framework across the country, it underlined.

It also observed that the existing number of diagnostic centres is inadequate considering the size and health needs of the country’s population.

It further noted that rural areas, in particular, suffer from a lack of well-equipped diagnostic facilities and oncologists, who remain largely concentrated in urban centres. The Committee batted for establishing additional diagnostic centres, especially in underserved and rural regions. It recommended that cancer diagnostic packages with standardised pricing be developed under government-regulated health insurance schemes to enable wider inclusion.

The availability of diagnostic services at regulated package rates would facilitate the inclusion of such centres in insurer networks, thereby extending the cashless treatment facility to a broader section of beneficiaries, the panel said.

In light of the low rate of cancer screening in the country, the Committee also recommended that the government should scale up the national screening programme, with particular focus on regions with limited access to medical care.

In addition to expanding screening infrastructure, it urged the government to intensify awareness campaigns across the country.

These campaigns should be region-specific, rather than generalised, to ensure maximum outreach. The non-government organisations should be actively involved as they are well aware of the ground realities and possess valuable experience of working with local communities.

Given the social stigma still associated with cancer in many parts of the country, leveraging these partnerships will effectively supplement the efforts of the government in conveying the preventive messages, it said while suggesting utilisation of services of celebrities, especially celebrity cancer survivors, to drive home the importance of early screening.

The panel noted that Patient Assistance Programmes are a commendable initiative by the government aimed at ensuring access to affordable medicines, particularly for economically vulnerable sections of society.

Programmes such as the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) play a critical role in providing low-cost medicines to patients from low-income groups. It noted that while some pharmaceutical firms offer patient support programmes, their presence remains limited. It recommended engaging more pharmaceutical manufacturers to implement such initiatives, particularly in areas where access to healthcare services is inadequate.

“This would greatly enhance the accessibility and affordability of essential treatments for disadvantaged populations. The Patient Assistance Programmes must also educate the patients about the treatment methodologies available and ensure that they adhere to the treatment plan. They should also be educated about the different government schemes available,” the panel recommended. PTI

A coalition of health care and medical technology organizations is urging federal officials to create a streamlined pathway that would give Medicare patients faster access to breakthrough medical devices and diagnostics.

In a letter to Mehmet Oz, MD, administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the groups called on the agency to align more closely with the Food and Drug Administration to reduce delays in coverage for innovative technologies. They argued that unnecessary regulatory hurdles prevent seniors from benefiting from treatments that could improve or save lives.

“Patients should not be forced to wait the better part of a decade for access to safe and effective medical technology,” the groups wrote, citing a recent study that found it can take nearly six years between FDA authorization of a new technology and Medicare coverage.

The organizations highlighted the impact of medical technology in recent decades, noting that advances have shortened hospital stays, reduced deaths from breast cancer by 43%, and cut fatalities from heart disease and stroke by nearly half. Devices and diagnostics have also enabled earlier detection of conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

While CMS has programs such as the Transitional Coverage of Emerging Technologies initiative, the groups said those efforts fall short of delivering consistent, timely access to innovations. They urged the agency to consider adopting a framework modeled after the Medicare Coverage of Innovative Technology program, which was introduced under a prior administration but later repealed.

Such a policy, they argued, would provide automatic coverage for FDA-cleared breakthrough technologies and a clear timeline for CMS to gather additional evidence needed for permanent coverage decisions. Legislative proposals such as the Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act have also sought to enshrine this approach.

The letter praised Oz for exploring options to improve the pathway but urged the agency to “take bold action” to ensure Medicare beneficiaries are not left behind as new treatments become available.

“This administration has a significant opportunity to course correct and make meaningful progress on improving American health,” the groups wrote. Medical Economics

The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet approved the establishment of five new Government Ayurvedic Medical Colleges and Wellness Centres across the state on Tuesday, marking a significant step to expand public healthcare infrastructure and medical education.

The colleges will be located in Narmadapuram, Morena, Balaghat, Shahdol, and Sagar, ensuring that each division in Madhya Pradesh has an Ayurvedic institution, stated Urban Development Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya.

This initiative aims to strengthen Ayurveda-based healthcare and promote the wellness sector. The government has sanctioned 1,570 posts for the colleges, including 715 regular and 855 outsourced positions.

Funding for the project will come from the National AYUSH Mission, with a total allocation of Rs 350 crore—Rs 70 crore per college—shared between the Centre and the state government in a 60:40 ratio. Each campus will include a college building, a 100-bed hospital, separate hostels for boys and girls, residential quarters for staff, and a pharmacy building, all constructed according to required standards.

In a related development, the Cabinet approved the creation of a Department of Endocrinology at GMC Bhopal to improve super-speciality healthcare in the state. The department will focus on diagnosing and treating hormonal disorders and will support medical research and innovation in endocrinology, the minister added.

The department will have twenty new posts, including one Professor, one Associate Professor, two Senior Residents, two Junior Residents, two Senior Nursing Officers, and twelve Nursing Officers. Additionally, one dietician will be appointed on an outsourced basis to assist patient care.

Officials said these approvals demonstrate the government’s commitment to diversifying healthcare by integrating traditional and modern medical systems and improving access to specialised treatment across Madhya Pradesh. The initiatives are expected to create jobs, enhance medical education, and improve public health in underserved areas. The state has allocated Rs 23,535 crore for health services in its 2025-26 budget. India Today

India reached a milestone in 2024 with a record 18,911 organ transplants, reflecting both medical progress and increased awareness. However, the country’s organ donation rate still lags at just 0.81 per million population, among the world’s lowest, failing to keep pace with rising demand.

Officials, patients, and health advocates call for urgent action on public awareness, cultural barriers, and healthcare infrastructure to bridge the gap, warning that tens of thousands continue to wait for lifesaving organs.

Record-breaking numbers, stubborn realities
In 2024, the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) reported India’s highest-ever organ transplant figure, with transplants covering kidneys, livers, hearts, lungs, and even composite procedures like hand transplants. This marks a dramatic rise from fewer than 5,000 procedures a decade earlier, cementing India’s position among the global leaders-third in overall transplants and first for living donor surgeries.

Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda credited “policy reforms, expanding hospital networks, and public engagement” for this success, highlighting India’s first-in-the-world achievement in hand transplants and the significant role of living donors.

Yet, officials caution that celebratory numbers do not reflect the full story. India’s organ donation rate remains below one per million, far behind countries such as Spain (52 per million), and even the United States (36 per million).

Over 63,000 patients await kidney transplants and 22,000 need livers every year, with many dying while on waitlists. “For every life saved, many more are left waiting,” said a senior AIIMS transplant coordinator.

Systemic and social barriers persist
Despite policy gains, India continues to face formidable hurdles in bridging the demand-supply gap for organs. Health Ministry officials point out that myths, lack of awareness, and deep-rooted socio-cultural inhibitions around organ donation slow progress. With only 0.81 donors per million, donation rates are especially low in most states except for a few outliers like Tamil Nadu, Delhi, and Telangana, where proactive policies have proven effective.

The government’s recent initiatives, such as mandatory brain death declarations, Aadhaar-linked NOTTO registration portals, and the accreditation of Nontransplant Organ Retrieval Centres, are driving improvements—but not universally.

Logistical barriers further hamper progress. Many smaller cities lack equipped transplant centres and trained professionals, limiting patient access to surgery. Even in urban hospitals, the process for certifying brain death and managing organ retrieval can be mired in delays and bureaucratic hurdles.

As a result, while more than 3.3 lakh pledges have been made through official portals, translating those pledges into actual donations remains an ongoing challenge.

The human toll: Patients left waiting
The numbers do not capture the stories of the thousands who wait for organ transplants, hoping for a second chance at life. Health experts warn that “for every operation performed, dozens remain unmatched; for many, organ availability comes too late.”

Advocacy groups are calling for more aggressive national awareness campaigns, school-level education, and family counselling at hospitals, arguing that such efforts are critical for changing social attitudes. The Logical Indian

Cambodia and Malaysia have committed to advancing cooperation in women’s healthcare and medical tourism, focusing on key issues such as maternal health, cancer prevention, and telemedicine. The two nations came together yesterday at a forum in Phnom Penh, where various stakeholders discussed strategies to improve healthcare services for women, with a particular emphasis on cross-border medical treatment opportunities. The forum, titled “Navigating Women’s Healthcare in Malaysia,” was organized by the Embassy of Malaysia in Cambodia, in collaboration with the Malaysian Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) and PERWAKILAN, the Ladies’ Association of the Embassy of Malaysia.

The event also welcomed Cambodia’s Minister of Women’s Affairs, Ing Kantha Phavi, as the guest of honor, who emphasized the importance of international collaboration in addressing the urgent health challenges facing Cambodian women.

Malaysia’s leading role in healthcare and medical tourism
During the forum, the Malaysian Ambassador to Cambodia, Shaharuddin Onn, highlighted Malaysia’s status as a prominent destination for healthcare tourism. This is particularly significant ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026, an event that is expected to further enhance the country’s reputation as a hub for affordable and high-quality medical services. Ambassador Onn emphasized that Malaysia’s medical system is recognized internationally for its accessibility, state-of-the-art facilities, and a team of highly skilled professionals who are trained globally.

In his remarks, the Ambassador stressed that Malaysia’s healthcare sector is renowned for offering high-quality medical care at an affordable price, positioning the country as one of the leading destinations for medical tourism. He pointed out that Malaysian hospitals are equipped with advanced medical technology and staffed by healthcare personnel who are trained at international standards, ensuring that patients receive world-class care.

Ambassador Onn also noted that Malaysia’s strong ranking in global healthcare indexes, particularly in terms of patient safety and quality of care, reinforces the country’s aspiration to become a top destination for medical and healthcare tourism in the region.

Cambodia’s progress and future collaborations
Minister Ing Kantha Phavi of Cambodia praised Malaysia’s expertise in healthcare, recognizing the country’s achievements in maternal health. While Cambodia has made significant strides in reducing maternal mortality, the Minister emphasized the continuing challenges posed by non-communicable diseases, particularly cancer, which affects nearly 20,000 Cambodians each year.

Phavi called for closer collaboration between Cambodia and Malaysia in areas such as telemedicine, oncology training, and the transfer of health technologies. She believes that such collaboration could help bridge the healthcare gap in rural areas, where access to specialized medical care is often limited.

The Minister made it clear that women’s health is not merely a medical issue but the foundation of family well-being, community resilience, and national progress. She emphasized that improving women’s health plays a crucial role in driving gender equality and sustainable development.

Collaboration for comprehensive healthcare solutions
Phavi outlined that Cambodia sees strong potential for further cooperation with Malaysia in telemedicine, specialist training, and health technology exchange. These collaborative efforts, she argued, could improve healthcare access for Cambodian women, especially in underserved areas. Phavi called for a whole-of-society approach to women’s health, involving governments, civil society, the private sector, and development partners.

She also pointed to Malaysia’s successful public-private healthcare collaborations as a model that Cambodia could emulate as it seeks to expand its healthcare initiatives and improve access to essential medical services.

Increasing interest in Malaysian healthcare services
In his presentation, MHTC Vice-President Lokman Izam Abd Aziz shared impressive statistics that demonstrated growing interest in Malaysia as a healthcare destination. According to Aziz, more than 3,600 Cambodians sought medical treatment in Malaysia last year, representing a 15% increase over the previous year. This growth reflects the increasing recognition of Malaysia’s high standards of care and its ability to meet the healthcare needs of foreign patients.

Aziz also highlighted Malaysia’s commitment to patient-centered care, noting the country’s efforts to make healthcare services as accessible and convenient as possible for international patients. For example, Malaysia has dedicated airport facilities designed to streamline the arrival process for medical tourists, ensuring that their journey is as smooth as possible.

Looking ahead, Aziz revealed plans for the first-ever “Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism” in 2026, which will be held under the theme “Healing Meets Hospitality.” This event will showcase Malaysia’s healthcare services alongside its rich cultural offerings, aiming to provide medical tourists with not only top-tier treatment but also a holistic healing experience that includes Malaysia’s renowned hospitality and natural beauty.

Women’s health focused sessions
The event also featured a series of informative sessions on various aspects of women’s health, including eye health, bone health, reproductive health, and heart disease and cancer awareness. These sessions underscored the shared vision of both Cambodia and Malaysia to place women’s healthcare at the center of sustainable development and ASEAN solidarity. By working together, the two countries aim to improve access to healthcare services for women, particularly in regions where healthcare infrastructure is less developed.

Conclusion: Strengthening regional healthcare cooperation
The “Navigating Women’s Healthcare in Malaysia” forum served as a crucial step towards deepening the cooperation between Cambodia and Malaysia in improving women’s healthcare services and promoting medical tourism. Through partnerships in telemedicine, oncology, health technology exchange, and public-private collaboration, both countries hope to address current healthcare challenges and create a healthier, more sustainable future for women in the region. With a shared commitment to advancing women’s health, the collaboration between Cambodia and Malaysia is poised to strengthen healthcare access and deliver innovative solutions for the well-being of women across Southeast Asia. Travel And Tour World

Tata Memorial Centre will set up a 100-bed hospital in Raigad district through the Integrated Ayurvedic Cancer Clinic and Research Centre. The cabinet meeting held today approved the exemption of stamp duty on the lease agreement of 10 hectares of land given for this hospital. The meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

The state government has approved ten hectares of land at Tambati at a nominal rate of one rupee per year to set up this 100-bed hospital. This hospital will provide cancer treatment and health facilities to the citizens of the rural areas of Raigad district and the nearby cities. Out of the 100 beds in the hospital, 12 percent of the beds should be reserved for patients from the poor of the society, families below the poverty line, and government employees.

Also, cancer treatment should be provided at a concessional rate as per the government scheme. The cabinet meeting held today approved the concession in stamp duty for this hospital, with the condition that one person accompanying the patient should be provided with residential services at a very low rate. Newsband

The India in-vitro fertilization services market size is calculated at USD 2.35 billion in 2024, grow to USD 2.54 billion in 2025, and is projected to reach around USD 5.03 billion by 2034, to grow at a CAGR of 7.9% from 2025 to 2034. The market is growing due to rising infertility rates, changing lifestyles, and increasing awareness of assisted reproductive technologies. Additionally, advancements in IVF techniques and supportive government initiatives are boosting market demand.

How is innovation impacting the India in-vitro fertilization services market?
In vitro fertilization services involve assisted reproductive techniques where are egg is fertilized by sperm outside the body, and the resulting embryo is implanted into the uterus to achieve pregnancy. Innovation is significantly transforming the India in vitro fertilization services market by improving rates and reducing treatment costs. Advances such as time-lapse embryo imaging, genetic screening (PGT), artificial intelligence in embryo selection, and cryopreservation techniques are enhancing clinical outcomes. Additionally, the integration of telemedicine and digital platforms is improving patient access and care efficiency. These technological developments are making IVF more effective, accessible, and patient-friendly, thereby driving market growth across the country.

How can AI affect the India in-vitro fertilization services market?
AI is transforming the market by improving accuracy and efficiency in diagnosis, embryo selection, and treatment planning. AI-driven tools help analyze large datasets to identify the best embryos, predict success rates, and personalize treatment protocols. This enhances clinical outcomes, reduces time to pregnancy, and lowers costs. Additionally, AI integration supports better patient monitoring and decision-making, making IVF treatments more accessible, effective, and patient-centric across the country.

Market dynamics
Driver
Rising awareness and acceptance
Greater awareness and acceptance of IVF in India have led to a shift in mindset, where couples are more open to exploring medical solutions for infertility. Increased exposure through digital platforms, healthcare professionals, and success stories has helped normalize fertility treatment. This growing confidence in IVF procedures is encouraging more people to pursue them, thereby boosting demand and contributing to the steady expansion of the fertility services market across different regions in the country.

Restraint
High treatment costs
The high cost of IVF treatments in India acts as a significant barrier, particularly for middle-and low-income couples who find it difficult to afford multiple cycles. With limited financial assistance and minimal insurance coverage, many are forced to delay or forgo treatment altogether. Their cost burden restricts access to fertility care, especially outside major urban centers, ultimately hindering the widespread adoption and growth of IVF services across the country.

Opportunity
Telemedicine and digital consultation
Telemedicine and digital consultation platforms are opening new avenues for India in-vitro fertilization services by bridging the gap between patients and fertility experts. They simplify the initial consultation process, enable remote monitoring, and reduce the need for frequent clinic visits, which is especially beneficial in smaller towns. As digital health infrastructure improves and internet access expands, these tools can enhance convenience, boost patient engagement, and drive greater adoption of IVF treatment across broader geographies.

Regional insights
How is the India contributing to the expansion of the India in-vitro fertilization services market?
India is contributing to the expansion of its IVF services market through rising infertility awareness, increasing acceptance of assisted reproductive technologies, and strong demand in both urban and semi-urban areas. Government initiatives, growing medical tourism, and the rapid spread of fertility clinics are enhancing access to treatment. Additionally, advancements in technology, local manufacturing of IVF equipment, and increased investment in healthcare infrastructure are supporting market growth and making fertility services more affordable and widespread. Nova One Advisor

The American Medical Association has created a new toolkit to guide healthcare systems in establishing a governance framework for implementing and scaling artificial intelligence systems.

The initiative was prompted by a dramatic increase in physicians’ use of AI since 2023, say AMA leaders, and it aims to address the associated benefits and risks – including liability and patient safety – of AI and machine learning deployments.

Why it matters
After studying how physicians’ use of artificial intelligence has grown over the past two years, AMA developed recommendations on the benefits and unforeseen consequences of large language models, such as generative pretrained transformers and other AI-generated medical advice or content.

The STEPS Forward Governance for Augmented Intelligence toolkit, developed with support from Manatt Health, can help provider organizations identify, assess and prioritize AI usage risks to better ensure patient safety and care equity.

The purpose of the guide is to help practices identify risks and spell out when AI can be used, in an overarching AI governance policy that is not burdensome to produce, AMA said in its announcement on Monday

AMA’s pillars of responsible AI adoption are:

• Establishing executive accountability and structure.
• Forming a working group to detail priorities, processes and policies.
• Assessing current policies.
• Developing AI policies.
• Defining project intake, vendor evaluation and assessment processes.
• Updating standard planning and implementation processes.
• Establishing an oversight and monitoring process.
• Supporting AI organizational readiness.

The AMA toolkit provides resources to help providers evaluate existing policies, such as what to include in an AI governance policy and a downloadable model policy that can be modified to align with their existing governance structure, roles, responsibilities and processes.

Dr Margaret Lozovatsky, AMA’s chief medical information officer and vice president of digital health innovations, said in a statement that healthcare AI technology is evolving faster than hospitals can implement tools and stressed the importance of governance.

Elaborating further, she told Healthcare IT News by email on Tuesday that “Physicians must be full partners throughout the AI lifecycle, from design and governance to integration and oversight, to ensure these tools are clinically valid, ethically sound and aligned with the standard of care and the integrity of the patient-physician relationship.”

While there is excitement about the transformative potential of AI to enhance care, operations and improve outcomes, “At the same time, there is concern about AI’s potential to worsen bias, increase privacy risks, introduce new liability issues and offer seemingly convincing yet ultimately incorrect conclusions or recommendations that could affect patient care,” she said. “The rapid adoption of AI in healthcare must be guided by physician leadership and robust organizational governance to ensure AI technologies are implemented into care settings in a safe, ethical and responsible manner.”

The larger trend
AMA has said that providers’ clinical experts are best positioned to determine whether AI applications are high quality, appropriate and valid from a clinical perspective.

And when implementing, managing and scaling clinical AI, organizations must communicate to clinicians and patients how AI-enabled systems or technologies directly impact medical decision-making and treatment recommendations at the point of care.

This past year, AMA released its report, “The 2024 Future of Health: The Emerging Landscape of Augmented Intelligence in Health Care,” which was largely based on the organization’s 2023 AI Physician Sentiment survey of more than 1,000 physicians, interviews with AI experts and a roundtable discussion with specialty society representatives.

The use of AI tools was “not pervasive – 62% of respondents indicated they do not use a listed set of AI tools in their practice today,” said AMA researchers in the study.

The survey had asked which AI use cases doctors currently incorporate into their practices, listing a myriad from automation of insurance pre-authorization, documentation and charting, discharge instructions, care plans and progress notes to patient-facing chatbots, predictive analytics, case prioritization support and more.

However, when AMA repeated the survey the following year, it found a dramatic increase in the number of physicians using these AI tools. Nearly 70% of physicians used AI systems in 2024, up from 38% the year prior, AMA said.

While physicians had concerns about flawed AI, the use of AI use cases nearly doubled to 66% up from 38% in 2023.

“The dramatic drop in non-users (62% to 33%) in just one year is impressive and unusually fast for healthcare technology adoption,” said AMA leaders in the 2024 survey report. “Significantly more physicians are currently using AI for visit documentation, discharge summaries and care plans and medical research and standard of care summaries than in 2023.”

Nearly half (47%) ranked increased oversight as the No. 1 regulatory action needed to increase trust in adopting AI tools.

“One of the most significant concerns raised by physicians regarding the use of AI in clinical practice is concern over potential liability for use of AI that ultimately performs poorly,” AMA noted in its deep dive into the shift in physicians’ AI sentiments.

AMA, in its role, advocates for governance policies that help to ensure that physicians’ risks arising from AI are mitigated to the greatest extent possible.

Physicians must engage with AI “that satisfies rigorous, clearly defined standards to meet the goals of the quadruple aim, advance health equity, prioritize patient safety and limit risks to both patients and physicians,” AMA said.

On the record
“Setting up an appropriate governance structure now is more important than it’s ever been because we’ve never seen such quick rates of adoption,” said Lozovatsky in a statement.

“Effective organizational governance is essential to ensure that AI systems support rather than disrupt clinical workflows, embed ongoing clinical oversight, uphold care quality and provide clear mechanisms for accountability,” she said Tuesday. Healthcare IT News

International real estate advisor Savills reports that the UK healthcare real estate market experienced a significant upswing in investment volumes in the first half of 2025.

The senior housing and care home sector saw £1.5 billion deployed, marking the strongest performance in a decade, according to MSCI data. Care homes led the charge, buoyed by robust private pay pricing, improved operator performance and favourable market dynamics.

Savills notes that international investors, particularly from the US, are increasingly targeting UK healthcare REITs that are trading at discounts to net asset value. Notably, US-based CareTrust REIT acquired CareREIT, while UK REIT Assura’s board initially recommended a bid from KKR and Stonepeak, before pivoting to a merger with PHP, which recently received a 63% majority vote from shareholders in favour. This wave of cross border activity signals significant confidence in the UK healthcare sector’s long term value and resilience.

Another area of strength in H1 2025 was the private hospital sector, fuelled by NHS outsourcing of elective procedures and rising private pay demand. Non-NHS inpatient admissions hit a record 939,000 in 2024, up 3% year-on-year and marking the third consecutive year of record volumes.

Despite positive sentiment, healthcare development activity remains subdued. Rising build costs, challenging debt conditions, ongoing planning constraints, and land values not adjusting to a more difficult macroeconomic environment have slowed development progress in the UK since 2022. New care home delivery has primarily focused on private-pay schemes in London and the South, where development economics are more viable, exacerbating the existing North–South supply imbalance. This said, Savills suggests that signs of recovery, such as easing debt markets and renewed investor confidence are beginning to support new build pipelines.

Savills suggests that recent government initiatives including the Spending Review, UK Infrastructure Strategy, and the NHS’s 10-Year Plan have signalled renewed commitment to healthcare investment, with a focus on technology, primary and community care, and public private partnerships.

Caryn Donahue, Head of Senior Housing and Healthcare Transactions, Savills, says, “Investor interest in UK healthcare real estate remains very strong, supported by a stabilising macroeconomic backdrop and growing policy support for public private delivery, particularly in primary and acute care. In the care home sector, rising wages and immigration changes may put pressure on margins, especially for providers that are reliant on Local Authority funding, but private providers will see less impact.”

Tom Atherton, Strategy & Market Intelligence Manager, Savills, adds, “Strategies focused on private pay demand and operational upside remain well-positioned. With dry powder available and financing conditions improving, momentum in the UK healthcare sector is expected to continue as we head towards the end of the year and beyond.” Savills

Medtronic said on Tuesday it would add two new directors to its board and set up committees to help boost its lagging shares after activist investor Elliott Investment Management emerged as one of its largest shareholders.

The medical-device maker said veteran MedTech executives John Groetelaars, once interim CEO for Dentsply Sirona, and Bill Jellison, formerly CFO at Stryker, would join its board as independent directors.

Medtronic also raised its full-year profit forecast for fiscal 2026 and said it expected a smaller hit of about $185 million from U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs, compared to the $200 million to $350 million it had previously expected.

The company did not raise the sales growth forecast for its fiscal 2026 despite strong quarterly results, sending its shares down 4% in morning trading.

“Investors were hoping for more operating improvements and more sales growth than we got this quarter and in guidance,” said Edward Jones analyst John Boylan.

CEO Geoff Martha said Groetelaars and Jellison brought with them the necessary MedTech experience the company’s board had been missing.

“There is a specific formula for M&A (in MedTech), and having experienced MedTech operators and with a lot of M&A background is helpful in being that voice on the board,” Martha said in an interview.

One of its new panels will seek investment opportunities, including tuck-in deals, while the other will focus on boosting earnings growth, Medtronic said. Both committees will be led by Martha and include the two new directors.

“We view these changes as an incrementally positive development for Medtronic,” Leerink Partners analyst Mike Kratky said, pointing to Elliott’s track record of boosting share performance for companies such as Cardinal Health.

Elliott, which has not disclosed the value of its stake in Medtronic, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for the details. Reuters