RIAClosedHORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-CARE-03

Identifying and addressing low-value care in health and care systems

Horizon Europe

Per project€10M

1 phase

Deadline:2026-04-16

💡

Strategic Analysis

This RIA call demands a systems-level approach to low-value care, combining comparative effectiveness research with pilot interventions that are scalable across EU health systems. Winning proposals will demonstrate multi-stakeholder co-design (providers, policymakers, patients) and quantifiable efficiency gains while maintaining or improving patient outcomes and health equity. Environmental sustainability must be explicitly addressed as a co-benefit of reduced low-value care.

Key differentiators will be cross-country transferability, digital enablement (e.g., EHDS integration), and alignment with EU policies like the European Care Strategy and Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe.

🚀

Suggested TRL Range

TRL 2 → 6

Based on programme defaults

Scope Activities (3)

SC1

Develop a deeper understanding of how low-value care can be identified and measured throughout the healthcare process, including testing related indicators and producing evidence-based methodologies that enable the pursuit of improved efficiency and quality of care.

SC2

Identify instances of overuse, misuse, underuse and unwarranted variation in specific healthcare contexts across different stages of the healthcare process. This analysis should provide actionable insights for policymakers, healthcare providers and healthcare professionals to evaluate the potential of possible strategies for reducing low-value care, allowing for more informed decision-making and improved care practices.

SC3

Develop and/or pilot innovative strategies for effective reduction of low-value care in specific settings across the care pathway. These pilots should demonstrate scalability and transferability across diverse health and care systems in Europe.

Expected Outcomes (4)

EO1

Healthcare providers and policymakers make use of evidence-based indicators and methodologies to identify low-value care [1] practices, as well as opportunities for improvement and tools to monitor such improvements.

EO2

Healthcare professionals are equipped with the knowledge and tools to implement guidelines for reducing or discontinuing low-value care activities and maintaining effective and patient-centred practices that ensure quality of care.

EO3

Patients and citizens benefit from more effective healthcare, by understanding and endorsing measures that reduce low-value care, recognising the potential to achieve higher-quality healthcare and better health outcomes overall.

EO4

Health and care systems benefit from a reduction of low-value care practices, which enables enhanced patient safety and quality of care, while contributing to their efficiency as well as fiscal and environmental sustainability.