20 Oct 2020

Harnessing health data to benefit patients and speed up research

  • By 2025, one in three Member States should offer cross-border access to electronic health records. Today, it is not possible to access your medical records if you cross a border.

Health systems now produce as much as 30 per cent of the world’s stored data. Unfortunately, much of it is paper-based and remains siloed in hospitals and other specific organisations. It is also exposed to data breaches and ransomware attacks with a significant privacy impact on patients and financial impact on our hospitals. As well as a bold legal framework supported by Member States, investment is needed to digitise, connect and secure these disparate data systems.

Investment will also be needed for a pan-European health data infrastructure. Electronic health records are at the core of a patient-centred, interoperable, trust-based Common European Health Data Space that will propel the EU towards new predictive and preventative models of care.

Harnessing health data will also benefit researchers from the public and private sectors, who need quick and safe access to this data to develop treatments and vaccines, as the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted.

The digital technology for moving to a paperless environment is there, but adoption of electronic health records stands at just 3 per cent in Europe. Similarly, investment in secure software applications in healthcare is insufficient and trails that of many other sectors.

Download the full investment plan
DOWNLOAD THE PDF
Our resources on How to spend it: A digital investment plan for Europe
16 Dec 2024 The Download
The Download: Targeted adjustments for a future-ready EU product framework
13 Dec 2024 Policy Paper
Strengthening healthcare cybersecurity: Focus on implementation, not new legislation
11 Dec 2024 Policy Paper
Shaping DPP service providers: Building a secure and flexible framework
Hit enter to search or ESC to close
This website uses cookies
We use cookies and similar techonologies to adjust your preferences, analyze traffic and measure the effectiveness of campaigns. You consent to the use of our cookies by continuing to browse this website.
Decline
Accept