What is the European Health Data Space?

A European Health Data Space will help us all reap the benefits of digitalisation through a set of rules, common standards and practices, infrastructures and a governance framework, making health data work for people, patients and innovation.

We are so used to having our financial data at our fingertips. We check our accounts, we pay bills with our phones, and we send money to people in different countries.

However, until now, we could not enjoy this ease of access when it came to the most precious information about our own health. Thanks to the European Health Data Space (EHDS), this will now be possible and enable the EU to unlock the full potential offered by the safe and secure use (and re-use) of health data.

To put it simply, we are putting health data to the service of better healthcare and stronger health research.

How will citizens benefit from the European Health Data Space?

We will enjoy greater control over our electronic health data. EHDS will empower individuals across the EU to exercise their rights over their health data fully, – enabling them to access and share their data, while retaining greater control over them.

Imagine the benefits if you could easily access your health information yourself. For example, if you become ill while abroad, you could show your treating physician your records. You could immediately look up the date of your last tetanus shot or verify that your children’s vaccine records were up to date before travelling. 

People can become much more pro-active about their health.  It will be easy to input new data and keep medical records completely up to date. You won’t have to search through filing cabinets or make calls to your regular doctor to look up past information. In addition, you will be able to add information, rectify errors, restrict access and find out which health professionals have accessed your data. 

All the information you need would be at your fingertips, and available to you free of charge and immediately. These are some of the benefits of the European Health Data Space. These small measures will have a great influence in saving lives.

And for those working in healthcare settings, industry and policy makers, what’s in it for them?

The European Health Data Space will be a game-changer.

Health professionals will appreciate having all the information they need to help their patients and will be able to make much more informed decisions tailored to specific medical needs.

Researchers and industry will also benefit by being able to access a broad range of trustworthy data that is regularly updated. They can follow trends, see needs, better and more quickly gauge what works and what is needed. Knowing what the problems are is key to finding solutions. 

The European Health Data Space will also save money. We estimate that some 5.5 billion EUR will be saved over the next ten years in the EU by better accessing and exchanging health data, with further savings of 5.4 billion EUR over the next decade from making better use of health data for research, innovation and policy-making. Hospitals, too, could make significant savings by making better use of existing health information. This would free up billions of Euros for other vital healthcare needs. The numbers really do speak for themselves.

What would you say to people who are concerned that their health data might be shared without their knowledge and consent?

Trust is at the root of the EHDS. We must be confident that our personal health data is handled with the greatest care, underpinned by strong data protection rules and data security. That is why the Commission has introduced strict security criteria as to how electronic health record systems can be used and shared.

To those who would be concerned by this, let me say that EHDS springs from legislation that has, at its core, the individual's right to privacy. These are of course the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the NIS Directive.

Not only does the European Health Data Space derive from this ironclad regulation and directive in the area of privacy, it actually builds upon these initiatives as EHDS will provide tailor-made privacy rules for the health sector where needed.

For more information about the European Health Data Space, please visit:  European Health Data Space (europa.eu)