Europe’s digital health transformation is increasingly constrained by gaps in governance, implementation capacity, workforce readiness, interoperability and the ability to scale innovation, according to a new report from the Digital Health Advisory Group for Europe.

The findings are based on the eighth annual DHAGE High-Level Meeting, held at HIMSS26 Europe Conference & Exhibition in Copenhagen under the theme of Navigating Transformation Under Pressure: Mind the Gaps. The meeting brought together policymakers, national health authorities, European institutions and international organizations to examine the systemic barriers preventing digital health reforms from translating into measurable impact.

DHAGE members identified more than 20 challenges affecting Europe’s digital health landscape and prioritized eight for further discussion, including cybersecurity, health data and interoperability, AI governance and workforce skills, digital investment, innovation and scale, supplier compliance and preparedness for geopolitical and systemic shocks.

The report also highlights five key conclusions from the gap analysis and Policy Sprint discussions:

• Digital health transformation is now a governance challenge: Progress increasingly depends on leadership, coordination and implementation capacity, not technology alone.
• Europe must shift from policy design to implementation at scale: With major policy frameworks now in place, countries need practical guidance, shared tools and coordinated implementation.
• AI readiness starts with strong digital health foundations: High-quality data, interoperable infrastructure, workforce capabilities, governance and public trust are essential for responsible AI adoption.
• Resilience, trust and interoperability require coordinated action: Cybersecurity, EHDS implementation and cross-border data exchange require collaboration across countries and institutions.
• Closing systemic gaps can unlock progress across multiple priorities: Targeted action on governance, workforce, standards, implementation and evidence can accelerate transformation across multiple areas.

The findings provide a practical foundation for policymakers and health leaders, including the European Commission, OECD, WHO, international organizations and national governments, to strengthen digital health implementation and support greater alignment across Europe.

The 2026 DHAGE High-Level Meeting was jointly organized by HIMSS, the Finnish Ministry for Social Affairs and Health and Shared Services of the Ministry of Health, Portugal.