22 Investing in Health for a Competitive, Secure, and Resilient Europe: A Strategic Call to Action The Partnership for Health System Sustainability and ResilienceThe Horizon Europe programme allocated over €8 billion to the health cluster under the pillar ‘Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness’.91 In particular, the EU Mission on Cancer, funded under Horizon Europe, has collaborated closely with the EBCP to harness synergies in advancing EU objectives for cancer research and treatment. The EBCP has been a successful example of a health-in-all-policies initiative, with joint governance of the Cancer Plan and the Cancer Mission enabling coherence in cancer research, innovation, and policy efforts.92 Additionally, there have been high levels of stakeholder engagement across Member States and the Commission, with over 20 Commission departments and agencies contributing to the implementation of the EBCP . Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is estimated to cost the EU €282 billion annually, with health and long-term care accounting for €155 billion (55%), equalling 11% of EU health expenditure. CVD significantly impacts health and social care systems as well as society through premature mortality and disability, and because many patients require care from relatives.93 EU Member States have called for an EU Cardiovascular Health Plan,94 and the next EU budget should include dedicated funding to support the successful implementation of that plan.95 Digitalisation and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) can both bolster more resilient health systems and help anchor R&D activities in the pharmaceutical and MedTech sectors within the EU.96 With public finances under pressure, the Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) is an example of a valuable EU public-private partnership focused on R&D. By promoting collaboration between health-related industrial sectors and research institutions, the IHI has the potential to advance research and support the development and uptake of innovations that respond to public health needs, while contributing to the competitiveness of the European health industry.97 Consistent support for health research and innovation is needed (ranging from basic research to close-to-market development), either in a successor to the current EU Framework Programme or the newly established Competitiveness Fund. Innovations such as telehealth should be leveraged to ensure equitable access to healthcare, particularly benefiting rural areas, remote communities, and patients with limited mobility. Furthermore, the EU recently launched the InvestAI initiative to mobilise €200 billion for investment in AI, highlighting the potential for AI to improve healthcare, spur research and innovation, and boost competitiveness.98 To this end, health systems must be equipped with the infrastructure and skills to reap the rewards of innovation. The upcoming Apply AI strategy should also support large-scale deployment of AI in the health sector, especially AI-assisted surgeries and robotic medical technologies. Cybersecurity is a key enabler of safe patient care, as acknowledged by the recent Action Plan for cybersecurity for hospitals and healthcare providers.99 Hospitals and health systems are struggling to handle rising cybersecurity threats, which often disproportionately target the health sector; indeed, 8% of all ransomware attacks in the EU target the health sector.100 Financial and human resources dedicated to tackling these threats are scarce, in the face of median costs of €300,000 per major cybersecurity incident in the healthcare sector.101 Europe needs more investment in cybersecurity capacity, resources, skills, and expertise as well as state-of-the-art software in hospitals and health systems. Ultimately, the right to equitable access to health and long-term care services is reinforced as a fundamental element underpinning an inclusive EU in the European Pillar of Social Rights.102 Since EU financing instruments address a broad range of thematic objectives, leveraging synergies with other strategic priorities can support health system transformation projects that address cross- cutting themes. Emphasising the value of health for all policies can support the essential paradigm shift to recognise health as an investment and empower multisectoral action.103 Existing EU agencies including the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the ECDC, and HERA play a critical role in ensuring health security for EU citizens by responding to common public health threats in the EU. Following the response to COVID-19, the mandates of both the EMA and the ECDC were strengthened under the EHU to facilitate coordinated EU-level response to health crises,

PHSSR European Union Investing in Health 2025