Tuesday, April 14, 2026

11:00 - 12:30

Hall 1 (Auditorium)

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Overview

Volunteers and Voluntary Sector SIG As health and social care systems worldwide grapple with increasing complexity, fragmentation, and resource constraints, the third sector has emerged as a key catalyst for innovation in integrated care. Unlike public sector organizations constrained by bureaucratic processes and political cycles, or private sector entities driven primarily by profit motives, third sector organizations occupy a unique "sweet spot" for innovation. This panel will bring together leaders and researchers to examine how third-sector positionality enables rapid prototyping, scaling, and implementation of innovative integrated care models. We will explore how mission-driven organizations leverage their flexibility, community embeddedness, and values-based approach to address gaps in care coordination, test novel interventions, and bridge divides between health and social care. Drawing on real-world examples from community health organizations, social enterprises, and voluntary sector partnerships, panellists representing global jurisdictions will illustrate how third sector organizations drive system-level innovation to: • Rapidly respond to emerging community needs without lengthy procurement processes • Build trust with marginalized populations who distrust statutory services • Pilot person-centred models that challenge traditional service boundaries • Attract diverse funding streams to de-risk innovation • Scale successful interventions through network effects and knowledge sharing The session will examine both successes and challenges. These include questions about long-term sustainability when funding is short-term, the risk that governments use third-sector organizations as an alternative to funded public services, and how to ensure quality and equitable access across diverse third-sector providers. Through interactive discussion, we will identify the conditions that enable third-sector innovation to thrive and develop practical insights for building more effective partnerships between health systems and community organizations.

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Plenary Speaker

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Speaker