The European health data space: Too big to succeed?
: Marelli Luca, Stevens Marthe, Sharon Tamar, Van Hoyweghen Ine, Boeckhout Martin, Colussi Ilaria, Degelsegger-Márquez Alexander, El-Sayed Seliem, Hoeyer Klaus, van Kessel Robin, Zając Dorota Krekora, Matei Mihaela, Roda Sara, Prainsack Barbara, Schlünder Irene, Shabani Mahsa, Southerington Tom
Publisher: Elsevier
: 2023
: Health Policy
: Health policy (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
: Health Policy
: 104861
: 135
: 0168-8510
: 1872-6054
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2023.104861
: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2023.104861
: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/180473510
In May 2022, the European Commission issued the Proposal for a Regulation on the European Health Data Space (EHDS), with the aims of granting citizens increased access to and control of their (electronic) health data across the EU, and facilitating health data re-use for research, innovation, and policymaking. As the first in a series of European domain-specific "data spaces", the EHDS is a high-stakes development that will transform health data governance in the EU region. As an international consortium of experts from health policy, law, ethics and the social sciences, we are concerned that the EHDS Proposal will detract from, rather than lead to the achievement of, its stated aims. We are in no doubt on the benefits of using health data for secondary purposes, and we appreciate attempts to facilitate such uses across borders in a carefully curated manner. Based on the current draft Regulation, however, the EHDS risks undermining rather than enhancing patient control over data; hindering rather than facilitating the work of health professionals and researchers; and eroding rather than increasing the public value generated through health data sharing. Therefore, significant adjustments are needed if the EHDS is to realize its promised benefits. Besides analyzing the implications for key groups and European societies at large who will be affected by the implementation of the EHDS, this contribution advances targeted policy recommendations to address the identified shortcomings of the EHDS Proposal.
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