Why Great VR Health Innovations Still Struggle to Reach Patients in Europe?

Virtual reality is already transforming rehabilitation, mental health, pain management
and medical education. Yet clinical potential alone is not enough. Successfully navigating reimbursement systems, regulatory requirements and market access pathways remains one of the greatest challenges for innovators. The new Market Access Landscape Report, developed by Syreon Research Institute and Instituto Pedro Nunes as part of the VR Health Champions project, provides practical guidance to help start-ups and SMEs understand how to bring VR health solutions into European healthcare systems.

For many innovators, market access is more complex than product development itself. Healthcare systems across Europe differ significantly in how they assess, reimburse and adopt virtual reality technologies, creating uncertainty that can delay patient access even when clinical evidence is strong.

The report analyses the current landscape across eight European countries, highlighting existing reimbursement pathways, regulatory approaches and the main barriers facing VR health technologies. It also explains why intended use, clinical evidence and reimbursement strategy should be considered from the earliest stages of product development rather than
after a solution reaches the market.

“One of the key questions we explored was why clinically promising VR health solutions still struggle to reach patients across Europe. The report shows that innovation alone is not enough. Successful adoption of VR health technologies depends not only on clinical effectiveness, but also on how well they fit existing healthcare systems, reimbursement models and real-world clinical practice.” – András Perényi, Syreon Research Institute

Whether you are developing a medical VR solution or exploring digital health innovation, the report offers practical insights into the European market access landscape and helps identify the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.

Download the Market Access Landscape Report and discover what it takes to bring VR health innovation closer to patients.