With Denmark taking over the EU Council Presidency on 1st July 2025, a new chapter in European health policy is about to begin.

In this episode of Break the Bubble, Incisive Health’s Senior Counsel Hans Martens is joined by Edward James Smith, Head of the EU Office at the Danish Ministry of the Interior and Health. They talk about Denmark’s priorities for the months ahead — from strengthening Europe’s preparedness to boosting competitiveness — and why these themes matter now more than ever.

What role will Denmark play in driving progress on key health files such as the Critical Medicines Act and the Pharmaceutical Package? And how can this presidency help set the tone for Europe’s health agenda in the years to come?

The European Health Data Space, or simply the EHDS, was officially launched in March 2025, marking a major milestone in the EU’s vision for a more connected and data-driven health system. But turning that vision into reality prompts a long list of practical questions about data, trust, innovation, and the roles of Member States, industry, and patients alike.

In this episode of Break the Bubble, Incisive Health’s Senior Counsel Hans Martens sits down with Fulvia Raffaeli, Head of DG SANTE’s Digital Health unit at the European Commission. The two discuss where implementation stands today, what it will take to make the EHDS work across 27 countries, and why now is the time for stakeholders to get involved.

• What will the roll-out of the EHDS look like in practice, and who’s responsible for making it happen?

• How can we ensure trust and interoperability across national systems, while leveraging the full potential of AI?

• And how can the EHDS drive innovation, empower patients, while also creating real value for health systems, researchers, and industry?

In about two-thirds of EU countries, the responsibility for delivering healthcare services lies not with the central government, but with the regions.

In this episode of Break the Bubble, our Senior Director Valentina Polylas speaks with Michele Calabrò, Director of EUREGHA, the network of European Regional and Local Health Authorities to discuss why regional actors are central to health policy implementation, how EU initiatives can better support and influence what's happening on the ground, and what it really takes to bridge the gap between policy and practice.

How much influence do regional authorities really have when it comes to policy implementation? What can be done at EU level to support what’s happening on the ground? And why should regional voices be at the table when we talk about the future of Europe’s health systems?