2016 was a year of surprise and change in political circles, but that's nothing new for the medtech industry, which over a number of years has become accustomed to health care systems demanding different and ever-higher levels of service. Smart medtechs have been ahead of the curve, but the whole industry now factors in clients' wider needs in a holistic approach to patient care. Many companies' current M&A policies are already reflecting the changes to come.

US hospitals have suddenly started to care economically about the episodes of care that patients receive – an adjustment that requires medtech companies to adapt accordingly. So says ZS Associates in a new report about how companies need to work in step with providers as the transition to outcomes-based care accelerates.

The journey to Net Zero, described as ‘the defining issue of our time,’ will get harder in the coming decade. Failure to keep up the pressure will result in more long-term health conditions, increasing deaths and higher costs. The UK NHS is a Net Zero exemplar globally, but without a systemic approach, its compliance efforts could stutter.