Global medical device makers face a period of accelerated change as five structural forces reshape pricing, care delivery, supply chains, clinical pathways, and technological competition, according to a 2026 medtech trends analysis published by Clarivate.

The report, released in late April, highlights an evolving global market in which traditional assumptions about price, procedure location, and manufacturing are giving way to new strategic imperatives.

China's volume-based procurement expands influence

Mainland China's latest national volume-based procurement (VBP) round is one of the most consequential developments in global medtech pricing, the report said. Originally designed to expand patient access and control device costs, VBP has evolved into a market-structuring mechanism that affects multinational companies well beyond China's borders.

The newest rules introduce more sophisticated anchor-price logic, deeper price compression, and allocation systems that favor domestic manufacturers. For multinational corporations, participation in one of the world's largest medtech markets now requires recalibrating portfolio strategy and expectations around price and volume.

Outpatient and ASC settings gain strategic importance

The continued migration of procedures from hospitals to outpatient settings is another defining trend. The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) 2026 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System Final Rule expands the ASC Covered Procedure List and continues phasing out the inpatient-only list. This opens the door for higher-acuity procedures, such as cardiac ablation, to move into lower-cost settings when clinically appropriate.

The shift builds on longer-running patterns in orthopedics, general surgery, and other specialties, where ASCs have become central to growth strategies for both providers and manufacturers. Medtech companies must adapt commercial models, economic value propositions, and product designs to meet the needs of diverse sites of service.

Trade and supply chain pressures reshape manufacturing

Supply chain resilience is now a strategic imperative, the report said. Tariff exposure, geopolitical factors, and fluctuating material costs are challenging assumptions about where and how devices should be produced. Companies are responding by diversifying sourcing, re-evaluating business strategies, and pursuing more flexible multi-region manufacturing footprints.

Larger manufacturers are using scale, integration, and technology investment to buffer against global volatility, a trend that could further reshape competitive dynamics across device categories. Cost structures, supplier concentration, and manufacturing geography are increasingly influencing competitive advantage alongside product performance.

GLP-1 therapies alter care pathways

The rapid adoption of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists for weight management is changing patient behavior and clinical practice. While bariatric surgery remains the most effective intervention for substantial weight loss, GLP-1s have expanded in popularity, altering referral patterns and influencing demand across adjacent medical device categories.

The impact is not uniform. Certain bariatric procedures are experiencing sharper volume pressure than others, and downstream effects ranging from diabetes care to sleep apnea to cardiovascular monitoring are only beginning to emerge. The trend reflects a broader shift in metabolic disease management with ripple effects across multiple device markets.

Enabling technologies drive platform-based competition

Across medtech, enabling technologies including robotics, imaging, navigation, and digital workflow software are reshaping differentiation and competition. These technologies are no longer adjuncts to procedures; they are becoming central to integrated ecosystems supporting clinical planning, surgical execution, and postoperative care.

Companies are investing heavily in platform architectures that can anchor service lines, strengthen customer relationships, and open new data-driven value propositions. Emerging open-platform systems are also introducing flexibility and creating new competitive dynamics, according to the report.

Global implications and outlook

For international markets, the trends identified by Clarivate carry significant implications. China's VBP policies are influencing pricing expectations not only domestically but also in other markets where cost pressure is mounting. The U.S. regulatory shift toward outpatient care has parallels in Europe and Asia, where healthcare systems are exploring lower-cost delivery models. Tariff and supply chain pressures are prompting global manufacturers to redesign production networks, with potential effects on trade flows and investment.

The rise of GLP-1 therapies is being watched closely by device makers in adjacent therapeutic areas, as procedure volumes evolve. Meanwhile, platform-based competition could accelerate consolidation in some segments while creating opportunities for specialized technology providers.

Looking ahead, medtech companies will need to balance near-term operational resilience with long-term investments in innovation and market access. The report's findings point to a more complex, data-driven, and globally interconnected medical device landscape in the coming years.