Robotics unlocking the future of healthcare: event report on the policy roundtable on Robotic-assisted Surgery (RAS)

MedTech Europe’s Robotic-Assisted Surgery (RAS) Sector Group has published a report following its policy roundtable, “Robotics unlocking the future of healthcare,” held at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) on 7 September 2026.

The event brought together representatives of the European Parliament, the EESC and the European Commission, as well as clinicians, researchers, health technology assessment experts, health system leaders and the medical technology industry. Participants discussed how Europe can move from isolated adoption of robotic-assisted surgery towards its responsible and equitable integration into routine care.

Across the discussions, participants highlighted that robotic-assisted surgery can contribute to greater clinical precision, shorter recovery times, stronger workforce resilience and more efficient use of healthcare capacity. Best practices from Denmark, Belgium and England showed how registry data, structured implementation and clinical leadership can turn this potential into better care.

However, these benefits are not automatic. Funding and reimbursement models often focus narrowly on acquisition costs or operating theatre budgets and overlook the value that emerges across the entire care pathway. Conventional evidence generation also struggles to keep pace with continuous software and hardware development, while restricted reimbursement and limited training capacity can leave available platforms underused. As a result, access to robotic-assisted surgery often depends on the financial capacity of individual hospitals rather than on clinical need.

The report sets out key actions to support the responsible scaling of robotic-assisted surgery across Europe:

• Assessing value across the entire care pathway and funding outcomes rather than activity alone, including through conditional reimbursement and risk-sharing.
• Building capacity alongside technology, with strong clinical leadership and proficiency-based training for the complete operating theatre team.
• Combining clinical trials, registries and real-world evidence, and embedding data collection into routine care through the European Health Data Space.
• Improving European coordination on evidence requirements and clinical assessment, including through the EU Health Technology Assessment Regulation.

Importantly, participants emphasised that no single financing or organisational model will suit every healthcare system. Europe should therefore pursue consistency without imposing uniformity, through shared principles, clearer conditions for responsible adoption and the exchange of successful national and regional approaches.

Explore the full event report below.