The Bevan Commission has today (Wednesday January 21, 2026) published its manifesto Health Matters: Creating Sustainable Health and Care in Wales, setting out a clear, independent vision for strengthening the nation’s health and care system at a critical moment for Wales.
With pressures on services increasing, inequalities widening, and the needs of future generations becoming ever more urgent, the manifesto outlines three core commitments designed to support a healthier, fairer, and more sustainable and resilient Wales.
The Commission, Wales’ leading health and care think tank, emphasises that the decisions taken in the coming years will shape the wellbeing of people and communities across the nation for decades to come.
Dr Helen Howson, Director of the Bevan Commission, said, “Health matters to every person and every community in Wales. This manifesto is a call for bold, decisive action to make health and care fit for the future by keeping people well, using our resources wisely and meaningfully transforming health and care to meet needs. Wales has the opportunity to lead the way in health and wellbeing once again — but only if we make the right choices now.”
The manifesto sets out three key commitments ahead of the Senedd elections in May 2026:
- Health Matters: Keep people well, engaged and active at all stages of life
The Commission calls for a stronger focus on prevention and early support — giving every child the best start, promoting wellbeing in working life, and supporting active independence and connection in later years. Keeping people well is essential to reducing pressure on services. - Health Matters: Be prudent and make the best use of all skills and resources – stop doing things that add little value
The manifesto urges Wales to focus on what works and stop what doesn’t. This includes ending low‑value practices, reducing duplication, adopting innovation more quickly, and shifting from over‑medicalisation to prevention and self‑management. It calls for better use of evidence and data, stronger collaboration across sectors and the need to prioritise outcomes over activity.
- Health Matters: Transform and innovate to create a dynamic health and care system fit for the future
The Commission emphasises the need for whole‑system redesign, a skilled and flexible workforce, and rapid adoption of proven innovations, digital solutions, and data informed care. Transformation, it argues, must be purposeful, people‑centred and grounded in long‑term sustainability.
Professor Baroness Ilora Finlay, Chair of the Bevan Commission, said, “Wales must act with urgency and ambition. We cannot continue doing the same things and expect different results. This manifesto sets out the bold, practical steps needed to build a fairer, more sustainable system that truly delivers for people.”
The Bevan Commission manifesto draws upon extensive research, engagement, international evidence, and the principles of prudent healthcare to provide practical steps for achieving long‑term sustainability.
It aims to support informed debate and constructive decision‑making ahead of the Senedd elections, offering independent insight and challenge as Wales shapes its future direction.
Explore the full manifesto here: Health Matters
