Euronews Health Summit 2026: Navigating Europe's Evolving Health Landscape

Brussels is set to host the highly anticipated Euronews Health Summit 2026, a pivotal event bringing together thought leaders, policymakers, and experts from across Europe. Scheduled for Tuesday, March 17th, the summit aims to delve into the complex challenges shaping the continent's evolving health landscape and chart a course for the future of healthcare.

The summit convenes at a crucial time when Europe grapples with pressing issues such as enhancing health and pharmaceutical sovereignty, navigating the increasing influence of artificial intelligence in healthcare, addressing rare diseases, and defining the future scope of the European Union's mandate in health. This high-level forum will gather representatives from EU institutions, medical technology companies, research bodies, and patient organizations, ensuring a comprehensive and multi-faceted discussion.

Summit Opening and Priority Setting

The day's proceedings will commence at 1:30 PM with an opening message from Oliver Varhelyi, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety. Commissioner Varhelyi is expected to outline the EU's current health priorities, highlighting the key challenges and opportunities facing the European health sector in the coming years.

Interested parties can follow all summit events live via the dedicated stream, enabling the broadest possible participation in these vital discussions.

In-depth Sessions on Critical Health Issues

Following the opening address, four main sessions will tackle some of Europe's most urgent health issues. The first key session will focus on rare kidney diseases, bringing together patient organization representatives, specialist doctors, and policymakers to discuss ways to improve care and research in this field. Participants include Daniel Gallego (President of the "European Kidney Patients' Federation"), Professor Michel Jadoul (Co-Chair of the "European Kidney Health Alliance" and practicing nephrologist), Lidia Abad Franch (Medical Director at "Sobi"), and MEP Nikos Papandreou from the S&D Group. Euronews correspondent Maeve Guinan Jones will moderate the discussion.

The second session will address a fundamental question: How can Europe secure its health and pharmaceutical sovereignty? Speakers, including Olivier Gerard (Head of Unit for Medical Countermeasures at DG HERA, European Commission), Adrian van den Hoven (Director General of "Medicines for Europe"), and MEP Tomislav Sokol, will discuss strategies necessary to ensure Europe's independence in the production and supply of medicines and medical equipment. Angela Barnes, Euronews Economics Editor, will moderate this session.

Artificial Intelligence: Innovation vs. Ethical Boundaries

A significant portion of the summit is dedicated to discussing the role of artificial intelligence in healthcare. The agenda includes a special "A Big Question" dialogue with Ricardo Baptista Leite, CEO of "HealthAI," a global agency dedicated to the responsible use of AI in health. This will be followed by an in-depth panel discussion exploring whether the use of AI in healthcare has crossed acceptable lines. Participants include business leaders and AI and health experts, alongside Fulvia Raffaelli from the European Commission (Head of Digital Health Unit at DG SANTE), Professor Christian F. Doeller (Director and Vice President of the "Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences"), Simone Mohrs (Senior Policy Officer at "The Guild of European Research‑Intensive Universities"), and Jan-Willem Scheijgrond (VP and Head of Government & Public Affairs globally at "Philips"). The Euronews Acting Editor for Technology and Health will moderate this session.

Political Debates on the EU's Health Mandate

After a coffee break, Euronews Senior News Anchor Maeve MacMahon will host "The Ring," a dynamic debate format pitting MEPs Tilly Metz (Greens) and Stine Bosse (Renew Europe) against each other on sensitive health policy issues.

The day will conclude with a politically charged session discussing whether the EU should have a broader mandate in health. This session features MEP Peter Agius (EPP), MEP Vytenis Andriukaitis (S&D), Dr. Milka Sokolović (Director General of the "European Public Health Alliance"), and Dr. Matthias Wismar (Programme Director at the "European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies"). Maya de la Baume from Euronews will moderate the discussion.

The agenda also includes a special interview with the Czech Republic's Health Minister, Adam Vojtěch, conducted by Euronews Health Correspondent Marta Iraola, focusing on his country's health priorities and the EU's role in international health.

Conclusion and Networking Opportunities

The Euronews Health Summit 2026 will wrap up with a networking session starting at 6:00 PM, providing attendees with an opportunity to exchange ideas and forge partnerships. As with all events, the live stream will remain available for those wishing to follow the discussions remotely, underscoring Euronews' commitment to disseminating knowledge and providing access to Europe's most critical health dialogues.