A health system fit for the future could be Covid’s silver lining

The transformation is underway but challenges such as public trust, an integrated data infrastructure and innovative pricing mechanisms remain

The performance of healthcare systems across European countries presents an uneven picture. Picture: Getty

Even though we are emerging from a global pandemic, there are reasons to be positive about the future of healthcare.

Medical research and innovation in the field of gene therapy, for example, promise significant advances in the case of hitherto intractable conditions. Innovation in pharmaceutical products and in medical devices has accelerated sharply in recent years, and is likely to continue.

Big challenges remain, however, before patients benefit from many such advances. Public trust, a ...