HBI 2026: key highlights
That’s another successful HBI conference in the books.
Our team is preparing a detailed post-conference report covering all the sessions, but for now, here’s a quick roundup to wrap up the week and highlight some key takeaways. This year, we introduced a Life Sciences stream, spotlighting investment and innovation across pharma.
HBI 2026, themed ‘Creating Value in Changing Times’, highlighted a healthcare system evolving rapidly. Rising demand, workforce pressures, and growing costs are driving a shift away from traditional models focused on volume and price, towards approaches prioritising outcomes, long-term value, and sustainability.
From an investment perspective, the message is clear: healthcare is strong and resilient. Even with short-term uncertainty and some deal friction, structural pressures such as underfunded public systems and capacity constraints are keeping demand high. Investors are focusing on platforms that can deliver efficiency, standardisation, and long-term growth, particularly in fragmented markets with opportunities for consolidation. Emerging markets are especially interesting, offering scale and new ways to deliver care, although they require a hands-on approach and a longer-term view.
Speakers pointed out that healthcare is moving from focusing on single episodes of care to managing the full patient journey, with prevention and early intervention taking a front seat. Technology, especially AI, is becoming embedded into everyday workflows to improve efficiency, expand capacity, and support smarter decision-making. Data is a huge part of this.
Workforce challenges remain, but the discussion is shifting to solutions. Organisations are rethinking how they operate, improving productivity, and making better use of technology.
Specialty areas like oral health and ophthalmology stood out at the conference. Dental care is seeing a rising demand for implants and aesthetic treatments, and large dental service organisations are consolidating to create higher-performing networks. Investors are keen, but they’re getting more selective, looking for platforms that combine clinic growth with strong leadership, culture, and operational excellence.
Ophthalmology is similar, with ageing populations, diabetes, and myopia driving demand. AI and data-rich workflows are helping standardise care, improve efficiency, and support consolidation.
Procurement also took centre stage. It’s no longer just about lowering costs. Value-based procurement is taking centre stage, with decisions guided by patient outcomes, the total cost of care, and the broader impact on the system. Leadership is playing a bigger role, particularly in managing risk, ensuring supply, and supporting innovation.
There is also a balance between local and global approaches. Countries are strengthening local supply chains while still benefiting from international collaboration. At the same time, global dynamics are shifting, with differences between the US, China, and Europe becoming more pronounced in areas such as pricing, regulation, and innovation. China is emerging as a significant player in diagnostics and pharmaceuticals.
Overall, the takeaway from HBI 2026 is positive. Healthcare is evolving, and there is real momentum behind efforts to align incentives, make effective use of technology and data, and deliver more sustainable outcomes. For investors and innovators, scalable platforms, specialty care, emerging markets, and technology-enabled solutions are the areas where the most growth is occurring.
We are back in March next year, same place-same time! Book here for HBI 2027.
We would welcome your thoughts on this story. Email your views to Rakshitha Narasimhan or call 0207 183 3779.
