Open standards and shared data models are becoming central to how healthcare organisations design their future infrastructure. Initiatives such as the European Health Data Space (EHDS) and the International Patient Summary (IPS) are accelerating alignment around interoperable health data, while awareness and adoption of open standards like openEHR continue to grow across healthcare systems worldwide.
In this interview for our Mission magazine, Petar Abadžić, our International Markets Director, reflects on the key developments that shaped 2025 and discusses the growing maturity of healthcare organisations when it comes to data strategy. He also explores the role of open ecosystems, shared knowledge, and community-driven innovation in accelerating digital transformation and enabling more connected, data-driven healthcare systems.
Reflecting on 2025, what have been the most valuable learnings or turning points for your market, and how have they shaped your strategy going forward?
I don’t have to explain what openEHR is anymore! After seven years in this space, I have had countless calls and meetings where we had to justify why openEHR and why not FHIR. To be honest, it often felt like an uphill battle. In 2025, that has changed. The level of awareness and adoption has grown so much that conversations now start from shared understanding, rather than explanation. Both the openEHR and HL7 FHIR communities have made tremendous progress, and together they are shaping the future of health data management strategies worldwide.
How do you see healthcare organisations evolving in terms of data maturity and openness, and where do you think Better can make the greatest difference?
A key part of our vision moving forward is the Better Marketplace and our growing community of healthcare organisations, partners, and developers. Together, they share best practices, reusable content, and open data models that accelerate digital transformation across regions. When innovation is built on open standards and shared knowledge, solutions created in one healthcare system can quickly benefit others, driving collective progress and shaping a more connected, learning healthcare ecosystem worldwide.
Looking ahead, what emerging technologies or healthcare trends do you believe will define 2026, and how is Better positioned to respond to them?
2025 has marked a clear shift from vision to action when it comes to data standardisation and interoperability in healthcare. The European Health Data Space (EHDS) and the International Patient Summary (IPS) have become central reference points, driving regulatory and technological alignment across Europe and increasingly beyond.
Awareness and adoption of open standards, particularly openEHR, have grown significantly, now forming part of nearly every governmental or regional discussion on digital health infrastructure. As regulatory bodies continue to define frameworks for data management (EHDS), AI enablement (AI Act), and cross-border health data exchange (IPS), Better’s technology is naturally aligned with these principles.
Open, vendor-neutral data is no longer an aspiration, it’s becoming policy. And that positions our solutions to play a pivotal role in supporting this transformation globally.
What are your priorities and aspirations for the coming year, and how will they help shape the future of digital healthcare?
Our priorities remain the same: helping governments, regions, hospitals, and healthcare providers standardise and make better use of their data, build applications faster, and improve medication management for both patients and caregivers. AI will undoubtedly accelerate progress, but without solid data foundations, it’s just noise — as the saying goes, garbage in, garbage out.
Our focus for the year ahead is to keep contributing to a future where digital health systems are built on open, longitudinal, and high-quality care records that truly support better decisions and better care.
Read more industry insights for 2026 in our yearly publication:
