The healthcare industry faces numerous
legal challenges, especially as it navigates
new technologies, regulations and global
markets in 2025. Here are the top 10
takeaways from our recent 2025 Healthcare
& Innovation Forum currently affecting the
industry and likely to have significant impact
in the coming year.
1. Sustainability and decarbonisation
The healthcare sector must align with global sustainability
efforts, particularly the UK’s legal commitment to net
zero by 2050. The UK will be impacted by international
regulations like the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting
Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due
Diligence Directive (CS3D) because of their impact on the
supply chain. The EU Commission has proposed delays to
these regimes, but the legislation has not disappeared.
2. Infrastructure and investment needs
Many hospital energy systems rely on outdated
infrastructure (gas/oil heating). The main emissions come
from electricity and heating, requiring investment in new
technologies. Such investment can have wider benefits
than decarbonisation alone. Retrofitting is necessary but
challenging, as hospitals must remain operational during
upgrades, although the need to minimise “downtime” is
common across many sectors, so there are some valuable
cross-sector learnings.
3. Collaboration in decarbonisation
Collaborative approaches for carbon reduction have been
developed, such as open-source standards, industry
alliances and power purchase agreements.
4. Geopolitical instability
The UK has had to become more self-reliant due to global
uncertainties and as a direct result of COVID-19.
5. NHS systemic reform
The NHS faces ongoing systemic issues, with limited
political will for radical reforms (although since our forum
event, the government has announced that NHS England
will be disbanded and “taken back under government
control”).
6. Shift towards prevention
Healthcare is moving from treating sickness to prevention.
However, the lack of social care capacity and funding
remains a major challenge.
7. Healthcare innovations
Bio health technology, AI-driven diagnostics and peptide
therapeutics (e.g., Ozempic) show promise, particularly in
tackling diabetes and metabolic diseases.
8. Data and AI in healthcare
AI-powered tools are advancing patient care, with
applications in virtual GPs, on-device diagnostics and
personalised medicine.
9. Investment trends in healthcare
The UK has a strong healthcare and life sciences landscape,
but companies often seek investment abroad (especially in
the US, where the approach is to “scale or fail”).
10. Emerging health threats
Antimicrobial resistance, chronic disease due to sedentary
lifestyles and the “demographic time bomb” (ageing
population) require urgent attention and investment.
