On World Social Justice Day, the regional healthcare group Health Hub held its traditional Trend Report Brunch where experts talked about important changes coming to healthcare in 2026. The main focus was on new technologies, especially artificial intelligence (AI), and how these technologies can help doctors and patients in everyday life.
The message from the event was simple: as medicine changes fast, it is important that new tools become available to everyone, not just a few. Health professionals said that if people do not have access to new tests or treatments, it can make differences in health outcomes even bigger between different regions and groups of people.
AI tools for Prevention and Early Detection
One of the new developments presented was ZdrAVKO, an AI health assistant created to help people understand health topics and how to prevent common diseases. This assistant is available through everyday digital tools and can answer questions about things like healthy habits and screening programs. We wrote about this earlier in a previous article, which you can read here: https://www.ai2med.eu/937-2/
Experts at the event also talked about the growing use of AI in early disease detection. For example, they described AI‑based risk calculators that help estimate a person’s likelihood of developing cardiovascular or metabolic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, allowing for earlier action and monitoring.
AI and Cancer Care
Doctors who work with cancer patients explained that innovation in cancer diagnosis and treatment is changing how care is given. These changes include the use of more precise diagnostic tools that analyze medical data in detail and help doctors plan treatments that match each patient’s condition more closely.
At the same time, several speakers pointed out that new tests and treatments must be available to all people who need them. If testing or treatment is available only in some places or only for certain patients, this can create unfair differences in care.
Data and Connected Systems
Another topic was the way health data is used. Modern health systems can collect and use information in real time. This means hospitals and clinics can plan better, follow trends more closely, and improve health services for their patients. Digital tools are helping health managers make decisions based on data rather than guesswork.
Speakers also spoke about the changing role of healthcare leaders, who must now think beyond traditional administration to include data‑driven planning, workforce strategy and connections between health and social care systems.
Experts also said that using digital systems requires strong protection of health information. Privacy and security are important, especially when personal data is part of digital and AI tools.
Collaboration and Innovation Through Cross‑Border Initiatives
A specific initiative presented at the brunch was the Cross‑Border HealthTech Venture Builder, an EU project that brings together clinicians, academic institutions, startups and industry partners from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro to develop health innovations that come directly from clinical needs. This project supports structured mentorship, early business development and pilot programs to help bring practical solutions into everyday clinical settings.
As part of this initiative, a competition highlighted innovations such as an automated system for faster and safer preoperative preparation in orthopedics, demonstrating how clinician‑driven ideas can become practical tools.
Conclusion
Health Hub’s event showed that AI and digital tools are already becoming part of everyday healthcare, from early detection and health education to supporting clinicians with more detailed data. Speakers described concrete developments such as AI‑based calculators that estimate a person’s risk for conditions like cardiovascular disease, the growing role of personalized diagnostics in cancer care, and cross‑border innovation programs that help clinicians, researchers and startups develop practical solutions together. Digital campaigns, social media content and public communication efforts were also mentioned as ways to reach more people with reliable health information and encourage preventive behaviors. For these advancements to make a real difference, they need to be put into practice in health services and supported by training for healthcare staff, data systems that work across clinics, and continued collaboration among clinical teams, researchers and technology developers.
