The Procure4Health (P4H) project, a European initiative launched in June 2022, has made significant strides in healthcare procurement innovation. A project’s second annual report, focusing on the activities of the six established Working Groups (WGs) between June 2023 and June 2024, highlights substantial progress in addressing unmet needs in healthcare procurement. The initiative aims to revolutionize procurement practices across Europe by fostering innovation and sustainability in healthcare systems.
Key Achievements of the Working Groups
The WGs were formed to identify common unmet needs, facilitate procurement processes, and promote innovation in the healthcare sector. These groups have been instrumental in exploring specific focus areas such as digital healthcare, integrated care, sustainability, precision medicine, impactful innovation, and value-based healthcare. Their work culminated in the development of use cases, market analyses, and actionable plans to enhance healthcare procurement across Europe.
Sustainability in Procurement of Innovation
This WG has focused on identifying procurement challenges that impact sustainability in healthcare, such as antimicrobial resistance, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste management. Notably, the group developed use cases for on-site treatment of hospital wastewater and sustainable personal protection against pathogens, leading to comprehensive market analyses and open market consultations in early 2024.
Integrated Care
The Integrated Care WG aims to improve coordination between health and social services, particularly for patients with chronic conditions. The group has been working on a shared vision for integrated care, supported by extensive data collection through surveys and workshops. A significant outcome was the preparation for the Open Market Consultation on home-based care and remote monitoring, conducted in June 2024.
Digital Health Care & ICT
Focusing on digital innovation in healthcare, this WG has been identifying barriers to the adoption of digital health technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning. A key finding is the need for better coordination among stakeholders in implementing digital solutions. The group is preparing for future cross-border procurement initiatives based on these insights.
Precision and Predictive Medicine
The Precision and Predictive Medicine WG has concentrated on advancing genomic screening, personalized cancer care, and the preservation of biological samples. The group has successfully defined use cases for these areas, setting the stage for the upcoming Open Market Consultation on preservation of fresh biological samples, that will be implemented in September 2024.
Impactful Innovation and Value-Based Healthcare
These WGs are cross-cutting and have been working on fostering a mindset that prioritizes impact and value in healthcare procurement. The Working Group on Impactful Innovation seeks to ensure that successful innovations are adopted and benefit patients, healthcare professionals, and organizations. The Value-Based Healthcare group shifts focus from volume to value—social, technical, and environmental—and Value-Based Procurement (VBP) promotes early innovation through risk sharing and rewards for patients, doctors, and suppliers. Their efforts include developing strategies for integrating innovative products and services in line with value-based care principles.
Challenges and next steps
Despite the significant progress, there are still some challenges to be addressed, particularly in sustaining stakeholder engagement and aligning procurement strategies across different healthcare systems. However, the WGs remain committed to overcoming these barriers, with plans to continue refining their action plans and conducting further consultations.
In the coming period, the clinical working groups will maintain their regular schedules to focus on their specific objectives. They will develop and endorse an action plan tailored to the needs of healthcare procurement, involving detailed discussions and strategic planning. Additionally, the group on precision and predictive medicine will organize the Open Market Consultation (OMC) event on September 11th.
Finally, the project plans to create a European map of unmet needs to guide future innovation procurement. This map would identify critical areas for innovation, helping to direct resources effectively.
Conclusion
The second annual report of the Procure4Health project underscores the importance of collaborative efforts in advancing healthcare procurement innovation. The achievements of the Working Groups demonstrate a commitment to improving health outcomes through sustainable and innovative procurement practices. As the project moves forward, these initiatives are expected to play a crucial role in shaping the future of healthcare procurement in Europe.
