The NHS will roll out independent prescribing across England in autumn 2026, allowing qualified pharmacists to diagnose, prescribe and manage more conditions independently. The reform aims to improve patient access to primary care, reduce demand on GP appointments, and create new opportunities for community pharmacies, online pharmacy providers and digital healthcare services.

The global market for patient-transfer and nursing-assist robots is entering rapid growth, driven by aging populations, nursing shortages and advances in artificial intelligence. Japan leads innovation, while suppliers across Taiwan, China and South Korea expand internationally. The emerging Robot-as-a-Service model is expected to accelerate adoption by lowering costs and simplifying deployment for healthcare providers.

Japan's plan to deploy 10 million robots across 18 sectors by 2040 marks a major shift in healthcare automation. Backed by ¥1 trillion in government funding, the initiative aims to address labor shortages through AI-powered robotics while creating new opportunities for international technology companies in elderly care, medical devices and digital health.