Across the presentations, several strong themes emerged—ranging from the power of co-creation to the growing importance of data transparency, hybrid models of care and national policy support.
1. Co-Creation as the Cornerstone of Digital Health Innovation
One of the most powerful messages of the conference was that meaningful innovation requires working with patients, families, clinicians and technologists from the very beginning.
The Czech Republic pilot demonstrated this vividly. Through a Living Lab environment, spinal injury patients, clinicians and developers co-designed Rovinka, a simple but transformative tool supporting daily skin monitoring, remote physiotherapy and early clinical intervention. The solution succeeded precisely because it was shaped by “real user journeys” and constant feedback cycles—not assumptions from outside the clinical setting.
Germany’s ActiveTEP application, created for people undergoing hip replacement surgery, reinforced the same lesson. Patients described the app as “a calm, constant companion”, suggesting that digital tools that address emotional needs—such as fear, uncertainty or confusion—can significantly strengthen adherence, recovery and self-management.
2. Value-Based Healthcare Depends on Outcomes That Truly Matter
Prof. Sally Lewis reminded participants that value-based care begins with understanding what outcomes actually matter to people, not just what health systems traditionally measure.
Her core message:
“An outcome is a milestone which matters to a person.”
Embedding PROMs and CROMs in daily clinical practice is not administrative overhead—it is a vehicle for improving shared decision-making, identifying unmet needs and redesigning pathways based on symptom burden, not assumptions. Examples from heart failure management clearly showed how such data can improve outcomes and reduce acute care utilisation.
3. Slovenia: From Experiments to a National Value-Based Framework
Slovenia presented a compelling example of how a country can move from isolated pilots to national strategy. Dr Mirna Macur outlined key milestones: the establishment of the Slovenian Quality Health Care Agency, national PROM collection (Oxford Hip, Oxford Knee, EQ-5D-5L), and continuous patient satisfaction monitoring.
These developments are underpinned by strong political and professional alignment—from the Ministry of Health to health chambers and patient organisations—demonstrating that VBHC thrives when supported by legal frameworks, institutional structures, and systemwide data governance.
4. Living Labs Accelerate System-Level Transformation
Living Lab methodology proved to be a recurring success factor across the region.
Hungary’s pilot illustrated how co-design clarified hidden workflow challenges, identified high administrative burden, and ultimately produced an integrated system ready for deployment across nine hospitals. Testing included simulated patient journeys and iterative bug-fixing—another example of how open innovation reduces implementation risk and speeds up adoption.
These examples make a persuasive case that Living Labs are becoming a key mechanism for value-based innovation in Central Europe.
5. Digital Transformation Starts with Solving Analogue Barriers
The Polish pilot presented an unexpected but crucial insight: some of the biggest barriers to digital health transformation are still analogue.
The introduction of a digital signature solution—particularly for patient consent—highlighted that workflows, device security, hospital information system integration and centralised management must be addressed before innovation can scale. The pilot showed that even highly regulated processes can become paperless when designed with precision and user-centred thinking.
6. Early Health Technology Assessment Helps Start-ups Succeed
The DIGIVITALITY programme highlighted the growing need for early Health Technology Assessment (eHTA) and business validation.
Start-ups often struggle with regulatory expectations, clinical alignment and demonstrating cost-effectiveness. Through structured mentoring, site visits and feasibility testing, the programme helped innovators understand payer logic and refine their value propositions.
The lesson is clear:
Evidence, not enthusiasm, drives adoption.
And evidence must begin early.
7. Hybrid Care Models Deliver the Best Real-Life Outcomes
The PROCAREFUL project provided important evidence that digital health tools work best when combined with personal engagement and human support.
Workshops on fall prevention, communication skills and cognitive health enhanced participants’ physical, mental and social wellbeing. Participants reported feeling empowered—and their improved habits demonstrated the synergistic effect of combining technology with relational support structure.
This offers a broader message for VBHC: technology amplifies impact when embedded in compassionate, human-centred care.
8. Culture Change is the Hidden Engine of VBHC
Across presentations, cultural transformation emerged as a decisive factor.
Hans Bax and Prof. Sally Lewis underlined the importance of stewardship, reducing low-value activities, segmenting patients by needs and building communities of practice.
As Lewis noted humorously,
“It all starts with cake.”
A reminder that trust, informal learning and peer networks often lay the groundwork for serious system redesign.
Central Europe Moving From Promise to Practice
The conference made clear that Central Europe is not simply adopting global VBHC ideas—it is creating its own models, grounded in co-creation, real-world testing and strong cross-sector collaboration.
From digital rehab tools and surgical workflow redesign to national PROM strategies and Living Lab innovation, the region is demonstrating how value-based healthcare can move from theory into practice—and most importantly, how it can improve the lives of patients and families.