Symposium on Future Health Systems: Securing Wellbeing in a Changing World
Public healthcare systems around the world are under growing strain and risk rapidly becoming unsustainable. Ageing populations, the rising prevalence of chronic disease, and the increasing cost of treatments are placing pressure on public finances. Shortages of healthcare workers, frequent outbreaks, climate related disasters and widening social inequalities are further stretching already fragile systems.
At the same time, many national health systems remain oriented around reactive, high-cost models of care. Over the long term, this approach may struggle to deliver care that is affordable, fair and resilient. Addressing these pressures will likely require fundamental changes in how systems are designed, financed and evaluated, alongside a stronger focus on prevention, primary care and innovative models of treatment.
Alongside system level reforms, there is growing interest in whether advances in novel fields such as regenerative medicine could contribute to solutions by reshaping how diseases are treated and managed. While still an emerging field, regenerative approaches raise questions about how future models of care might reduce disease burden, alter care pathways and influence the long-term economics of health systems.
This half-day symposium will gather researchers, clinicians and policymakers to explore challenges and opportunities. It will combine perspectives on health system reform with discussion of innovative scientific approaches with the potential to help shape future health systems that are more sustainable and resilient.
This Advalife Science and Nature Partnerships event will run from 10am-1pm on Tuesday 13 October at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. It will feature six expert talks, a panel discussion moderated by a Nature Custom Media editor and a brief update from one of the Nature Portfolio journals. It is run in partnership with The Mila at the Saïd Business School, and is part of the full-day 'Forum on the Art of Medical Science Innovation’ event at the University of Oxford.
Event details
13 October 2026
Oxford, United Kingdom
In-Person Event