The healthcare sector has been a key focus for many as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Global hopes for a cure – and for ways to mitigate the effects of the pandemic – are pinned on healthcare. Unsurprisingly, this has translated into significant investment in the healthcare sector – with digital health ventures alone receiving $8.26bn USD of investment by venture capital funds in the first half of 2020.

In order to support the industry’s response to Covid-19, governments have sought to release some regulatory burdens on healthcare companies and accelerate market access for important products. Many of these regulatory reliefs, such as the postponement of the Medical Device Regulation, are provisional. However, in the medium term, it is clear that there may be more change to come. Governments and regulators are looking closely at healthcare regulation, seeking to address weaknesses revealed by the current pandemic, including dependencies on third countries and security of supply.